A SYMBOL OF RUSSIA

It's difficult to find a symbol of Russia more popular than the traditional Russian matryoshka. The matryoshka doll - the wooden decorated toy "with a secret" - is known even in the countries most distant from Russia. Tourists from Europe and the USA bring matryoshka dolls back home; the lovers of exotics collect matryoshkas in Australia and South Africa; the simplicity and originality of matryoshka dolls attract the fans of Russian folk art. Bright and picturesque matryoshka dolls decorate the fireplaces and book shelves in the homes of thousands of Russians (residents of Russia).

History of matryoshka doll: awards and popularity

Some historians of Russian life argue that matryoshka doll is a copy of the Japanese detachable doll. However, it's known that long before appearance of the matryoshka doll, Russian masters would make hollow detachable Easter eggs from the wood. The first wooden matryoshka doll appeared in Moscow in the 90's of the XIX-th century. It consisted of eight dolls placed one inside the other. The dolls depicted children, the smallest of which was a newly born baby.

Although first matryoshka dolls were intended for children, they cost so much that only adults could afford to buy them. Matryoshka dolls were often given as a present to young women by their beloved ones. In 1900, Russian matryoshka won a bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Paris, and just a few years later matryoshka dolls became insanely popular. Several well-known manufacturing centers appeared in Russia, the most famous of which were Sergiev Posad and Semenov. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Russian nesting dolls were being exported abroad in large quantities, and even a few companies appeared in Germany which produced counterfeit matryoshka dolls and sold them as Russian toys.

What from and how is the Russian matryoshka made?

Whole families were involved in production of matryoshka dolls from linden or birch. The dolls of the cylindrical form were painted in different ways: it could be girls dressed in a sarafan and a headscarf, men or children. Matryoshka dolls were often painted holding baskets of berries, bread, bunches of flowers.

The production of matryoshka would begin with the smallest doll which was placed inside all other dolls and did not come apart. The number of nested dolls (in a set) could vary from two to sixty however the classic version was considered to consist of five dolls. When all the dolls were ready, they were covered with special glue to fill the cracks and roughness, and the picture was painted on top.

In some villages, nesting dolls are hand-made acccording to this technology even nowadays. By the way, contemporary hand-made matryoshka dolls are absolutely non-toxic because they are painted with watercolour, gouache and tempera. The matryoshka dolls are painted differently: there are matryoshka dolls in the form of the heroes of Russian fairy tales or famous political and historical figures.

Matryoshkas Record-breakers: worldwide success

In 1913, a factory in the city of Semenov produced a matryoshka dolls set that consisted of 48 figures painted in traditional red and yellow colours. And the biggest matryoshka dolls set was presented at the exhibition in Japan in 1970. Russian masters from Semenov brought to Tokyo a matryoshka set which conisted of seventy-two figures. Of course, the production of such matryoshkas requires exceptional mastery; therefore their mass production is not possible.