THE ART OF THE RUSSIAN MATRYOSHKA

The Art of the Russian Matryoshka is a very comprehensive account of the history, the making , range of styles, and the creators of these wonderful nesting dolls. In their relatively short 100-year history, they have become more than a popular souvenir or a folk craft; they are a medium for talented Russian artist-entrepreneurs— a symbol of Russian folk culture and representative of the mother country itself.
Russian dolls were brought to prominence primarily in the latter part of the century when a crafter called Maliutin produced what we recognize as the first matryoshka doll. Maliutin had earlier travelled to the Far East and was inspired by Japanese nesting dolls. He produced a version which depicted peasant women known in Russian as matryona. Following Maliutin’s death, his wife promoted the dolls at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, where they became an instant hit. Their popularity has never wained and the theme of Russian dolls has been incorporated into an ever growing range of trades including print making and wood carving.

Sergiev-Posad became the home of Russian Doll production They were made in many different styles using diverse painting techniques and colours. They’ve been used as canvases for political leaders and pop groups, with the images extending to animals and landscapes. They have become known as symbols of fertility, the mother womb containing many babies.

Today we see everything from perfume bottles, stationery, keyrings, ornaments, handbags, jewellery, candles, and shoes either adorned with or in the shape of Russian dolls. The production of the dolls, in whatever guise, has given people across the globe both employment and enjoyment.

Nesting dolls are the best known and most popular of all Russian souvenirs. The Russian word for these wooden dolls is "matryoshka", but they are also called matrioshka, matryoshkas, babushka dolls, babushka's doll, matroshka, matryushka, and stacking dolls. Whatever you want to call them, nesting dolls have a fascinating history, and they are the classic Russian gift. Our nesting dolls are carefully handcrafted. Click here to watch nesting dolls being made.

The most traditional nesting doll design is one that looks like a young Russian woman dressed in Russian native costume with a scarf on her head. In the traditional nesting doll sets all of the dolls look almost identical to one another, and the number of dolls in the set ranges from 5 to 30, but some custom-made sets contain many more. In other cases, the set forms a theme, such as the classic sets of nesting dolls of Russian leaders, with each earlier leader nested inside.