Matryoshka dolls, also known as babushka dolls, stacking dolls, nesting dolls, Russian tea dolls, or Russian dolls, are a collection of wooden dolls that are nested inside each other. Matryoshka is a diminutive variant of the Russian female first name “Matryona” or “Matryoshka,” which means “little matron.” A matryoshka set is made up of a wooden figure that splits in the middle, top to bottom, to expose a smaller figure of the same type within, which has another figure inside of it, and so on.
Vasily Zvyozdochkin, a woodturning artist and woodcarver, created the first Russian nested doll set in 1890, based on a design by Sergey Malyutin, a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo. The outer layer is traditionally a woman wearing a sarafan, a long, shapeless traditional Russian peasant jumper dress. The dolls inside can be of any gender; often, the tiniest, innermost doll is a newborn made from a single piece of wood. The painting of each doll, which may be rather complex, is a big part of the craftsmanship. The dolls are frequently based on a theme, which can range from fairy tale figures to Soviet officials.
Matryoshka dolls are sometimes known as babushka dolls in the west, with babushka meaning “grandmother” or old woman. Matryoshka dolls are frequently constructed to fit a specific theme, such as peasant girls dressed in traditional garb. Originally, topics were often drawn from tradition or fairy tale figures, in keeping with the craft heritage, but they have expanded to include a wider range of subjects, including Russian leaders, since the late twentieth century. Floral and natural themes are common in matryoshkas.
Christmas, Easter, and religion are frequently used as doll themes. Many new varieties of nesting dolls are created by modern artists, usually as an alternate purchase option for tourists. Animal collections, pictures, and caricatures of prominent politicians, entertainers, athletes, astronauts, “robots,” and popular movie stars are among the items on display. Some Russian artists now specialize in painting themed matryoshka dolls that depict specific subjects, persons, or natural phenomena.
Keep reading IWMBuzz.com for more such updates on your favorite celebs.