Contemporary Twist on Matryoshka Dolls

by Austin Baines Content Writer

What appears to your mind when you think about Russia? Yes, right, the beautiful and eye-catching wooden dolls. The simple terms for such dolls are nesting dolls, matryoshka dolls, etc. The art and beauty of Matryoshka deserve lots of appreciation and recognition. You will notice them in different shapes and sizes. The most amazing thing about these nesting dolls is that they get packed one inside the other perfectly.

The facts say that matryoshka dolls have been in the market for a hundred years. The origin of these dolls is yet not confirmed. However, most individuals believed that it originated from Russia. They were crafted in 1000 AD for the purpose of decoration and storage.

The idea behind crafting such nesting dolls was the nesting boxes that contain the same type of nesting boxes, and you will get another smaller wooden box after opening it. The same concept was treated for the nesting dolls.

The symbol of Russian Nesting Dolls is related to the woman's motherhood and fertility. All figurines of nesting dolls are female. The shape of these dolls is big-bellied, nesting her kids inside that justify its symbolic meaning.

Inside the one doll, you will find seven more similar pattern dolls of diminishing sizes. The next doll, second, third, and fourth, all are female, out of which the third one holds a scythe, and the fourth one holds a bowl in her hands. Next, the turn comes for the boy at the fifth number that holds a long fork. Again, the rest of the dolls are female. The sixth one holds a baby in her hands whose gender is not recognized, and last but not least, the baby that is wrapped in the quilt.

The meaning of Matryoshka is little matron, which is the name of the female in Russia. Russian nesting dolls not only represent fertility but also have connections with different cultures. Depending upon region to region, the nesting dolls recognition gets changed. For example, these Russian dolls represent political history in the Soviet Union and also constitute the latest political leaders. The wooden creatures also depict fairy tales.

Difference between Matryoshka Dolls and Babushka Dolls

The Latin meaning of the word 'mater' implies mother or Matryoshka. Thus it will be more suitable to call these nesting dolls Matryoshka. But some of the individuals mix Matryoshka Dolls with Babushka Dolls that are not relatable. We agree that babushka belongs to Russia, but it has a different meaning from matryoshka dolls.

The meaning of babushka is 'grandmother '. But it represents the wrong meaning when mixed with matryoshka dolls because matryoshka dolls are related to maternity and fertility. So it would be incorrect to say babushka and Matryoshka are the same.

Making of Matryoshka

These dolls are crafted with wooden material, so it is the most important part. Some of the best woods that are considered best for crafting such dolls are limewood, balsa, alder, aspen, linden, and birch. The lathe machine is used to make these wooden pieces in cylindrical form and then transferred to the carving department.

Mostly the craftsman designs the first part of the doll, i.e., the cylindrical one, and then the rest of the part. It is recommended that the crafting of both parts of dolls or complete sets should be made with the same piece of wood. For the finishing of the dolls, both parts are sanded together. You might be amazed to know that carver never uses any measuring scale or parameter for crafting wooden dolls. They easily do this with their skill and intuition.

The painting of these Matryoshka is done by hand. But after seeing the painting, you will say that it is done with the help of some machine. Gouache, a special type of paint, which is more opaque than the normal watercolor, is used to make Russian dolls bold and bright. Detailings of the doll are also done to make them look more real. A special type of liquid named lacquer is applied over them to protect them from natural wear and tear. It also helps in giving a glossy and shiny look to the dolls.

The first time Russian nesting dolls appeared in the exhibition was at the Russian National Exhibition in Paris in the year 2010. The process of crafting these Russian dolls never changed. They are still crafted with the same process and materials.

Conclusion

Nesting dolls are something that everyone loves. And feels happy to have it as a decorating product and playing object in their home. The design and pattern of these dolls are awesome. You can buy unique Nesting dolls from The Russian Treasures store. We have a wide collection of dolls that will catch your attention. All our Russian dolls are imported directly from Russia. So have a visit to our online store to get a glimpse of beautiful dolls.