Matryoshka Doll

Matryoshka doll - Arts, crafts and souvenirs from Russia

Collectable Matryoshka dolls. Nesting wooden doll originated in Russia symbol of motherhood & fertility. Now we are offering Authentic piece of Russian History and art at fraction of the actual cost!

The Russian matryoshka painted wooden dolls (nestled into one another) is known far outside Russia and has a history of almost a century. During this comparatively short space of time it emerged as an all-embracing symbol of Russia, a symbol of Russian folk art. The wooden painted doll appeared in Russian in 1890’s. It was the time of a growing sense of national identity and interest in Russia culture and art.

The Russia wooden doll was called matryoshka. In provincial Russia before 1917 the name Matryona or Matryoshka was among the most common female names derived from the Latin root "matter" which means "mother". To this day matryoshka remains a symbol of motherhood and fertility. A doll with numerous off spring of dolls is a fine metaphor for the oldest symbol of human culture.

The most common kinds of tree used for matryoshka is lime or birch. The long are kept in the open air for several years. Only an experienced master can tell when the material is ready. The long are then cut into work pieces for matryoshkas. Every work piece passes through as many as 15 turning operations before being into a doll.

The decoration of each matryoshka is original and unique. In painting a matryoshka the usually female artist introduces new ideas. The matryoshka is also remarkable for containing many pieces (5-30 varicolored dolls).

Although the early painted matryoshka made were fairly expensive they quickly won the hearts of grown-ups and children alike, In 1900 a matryoshka was featured at the Paris World Exhibition and became internationally known. In 1911 orders for matryoshka came from 14 countries. The early matryoshka consisted of between 2 & 24 pieces. The most popular matryoshkas were of 3, 8 and 12 pieces. At an exhibition in St. Petersburg in 1913, a 48 piece matryoshka was displayed.

The Russian matryoshka is living through a kind of renaissance apparently due to the increased worldwide interest in Russia and its economic, social and cultural change. Modern matryoshka makers have turned to the tradition of the early Russian painted matryoshkas, which involved professional artists.

Much loved among connoisseurs of Russian folk art is the historical type of matryoshka; the boyar men and maids, representatives of nobility and the merchant classes in Russia before the 1917 Revolution. The sumptuous and richly decorative dress of the historical characters allows for great decorative variety.

Attempts to use the matryoshka as a surface on which the artist positions his images, be it fairy-tale or landscape, go back to the turn of the century when the matryoshka industry was emerging. Some matryoshka that reproduce the landscapes of Russia often are inspired by famous Russian landscape painters. Russian folk tales increasingly provide the subject of decorations on the front of matryoshkas.