Originally Mamontov has been inspired by poster (usually wooden) types of the end of 19th—the beginning of 20th centuries. The type family was named after Savva Ivanovich Mamontov (1841-1918), Russian industrialist and patron of the arts. Massive asymmetric serifs, stocky proportions, type weight... are traces of harsh imperial reality. And soft forms of ovals, exaggerated compensators, humanistic curves of serifs and horizontal strokes betray the sensitivity and artistry of Savva Ivanovich.

Mamontov has 25 styles, ranging from Light to Black and from Condensed to Wide, with more than 1000 characters per font.