Matrëshka. History of Russian Nesting Dolls by Anastasia

Known by many names: nesting dolls, matryoshka dolls, babushka dolls, nested dolls, stacking dolls, Russian Nesting Dolls have captured the attention of children, adults, doll enthusiasts, and art collectors world at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900, to the modern day, the almost deceptively simple concept of a set of smaller dolls nestled within larger dolls has endured not only as a popular children’s toy, or a collectible decoration, but as an icon synonymous with Russian culture.

In this book one can find an intersting approach to the story about Russian famous wooden stacking dolls. This book features elements of design and stylistic typography. Matrëshka History of Russian Nesting Dolls

M AT R Ë S H K A

across the globe. From their introduction to the

M AT R Ë S H K A HISTORY OF RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS

is an ultimate guide to undestanding the value of Russian culture.

HISTORY OF RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS Edited by Anastasia Vergara

M AT R Ã&#x2039; S H K A HISTORY OF RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS

Edited by Anastasia Vergara

CONTENTS How do they say it?

What’s the difference?

Section 1, Chapter 1 History of Nesting Dolls

Japanese Seven Gods of Luck

Section 1, Chapter 2 First Matrëshkas

Section 1, Chapter 3 Name Origin

Section 1, Chapter 4 How are the dolls made?

Section 2, Chapter 5 Popular Matrëshka themes

Section 2, Chapter 6 Timeline

Section 3, Chapter 7 Matrëshka’s Portfolio

CONTENTS Section 3, Chapter 8 World records

Matrëshka Square

Section 4, Chapter 9 Coloring Matrëshkas

Coloring Styles of Matrëshka

Sergiev Posad Style

Semionovo Style

Polkhovsky Maidan Style

Section 5, Chapter 10 Finishing of the Dolls

Section 6, Chapter 11 Byproducts and waste

Section 7, Chapter 12 How to draw Matrëshka

Section 8, Chapter 13 Matrëshka’s cost

Section 9, Chapter 14 Matrëshka as an attribute

Matrëshka tattoo

Matrëshka at the Olympics

Winter Olympic Sports Nesting Doll

Matrëshka poem

Matrëshka video game

Section 10, Chapter 15 Are Nesting Dolls safe?

Section 11, Chapter 16 Using Matrëshkas to educate children

Index

References and credits

Special thanks

Use of letter "Ë"

Russian alphabet

MATRЁSHKA

SO HOW DO THEY SAY IT?

MATRYOSHKA... MATRESHKA... RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL... STACKABLE DOLL... BABUSHKA... MATRËSHKA.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Matryoshka and Matreshka sound the same and are common nouns, Nesting and Stackable Dolls are descriptive words. But what is

“Babushka”?

Does it relate to Matrëshkas? It actually means ‘grandmother’ in Russian, with the other meaning being ‘an old woman’ in general! So, babushka would be awesome to make some delicious pirozhky (stuffed pies) and feed you up with bliny (pancakes). Although watch out for dedushkas (grandpas), who won’t be that happy to let go of them! Therefore, my suggestion is – you should stick to Matryoshka

(Matrëshka!)

MATRЁSHKA

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

SECTION 1: CHAPTER 1

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS There are many versions of nesting dollsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; originality, however one of them stands out among others and seems to be the most authentic. It all started in China during Song Dynasty, around 1000 AD. Earliest known written records show that Chinese crafted nesting boxes, which are were used functionally and decoratevely. Later on, around 1700s, they have applied the same craftsmanship to a set of dolls; subsequently Chinese art of nesting dolls migrated to Japan, where this concept was applied to the seven gods of luck.

Number seven is believed to be the luckiest number according to history, not only in Japan. Seven days of the week,

seven colors of the rainbow... Number seven is enterpreted in many ways to show fortune.

MATRĐ SHKA

In Japan sets of wooden dolls were made into the image of Fukurojuro, the Japanese God of Happiness, and longevity, and would open up in a nested fashion to reveal the six other Lucky Gods. According to the Japanese legend, seven Gods of Luck traveled on a ship called Takarabune, which was filled with treasures and came from sea to bring fortune and prosperity to everyone.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Legend has it that the first set of these dolls was made by a russian monk. One can speculate that the monk may have been inspired by the tale of a golden statue depicting the sky god Jumala worshiped by ancient settlers in the foothills of Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ural Mountains.

Japanese seven Gods of Luck on Takarabune boat Art of Japan

MATRĐ SHKA

1. Fukurojuro God of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth and happiness

JAPANESE SEVEN GODS OF LUCK

2 . Ebisu God of prosperity and wealth in business

3 . JurĹ?jin God of the elderly and longevity

Myths claim the Japanese statue opened up to reveal smaller golden idols.

4. Bishamonten God of fortune in war and battles, a ssociated with authority and dignity

5. Benzaiten God of talent, beauty and music

6. Daikokuten God of commerce and prosperity

7. Hotei God of children and popularity

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 1: CHAPTER 2

FIRST MATRËSHKAS The Japanese doll soon caught the eye of the wife of a man named Savva Mamontov. In 1890 she brought doll set from Japan and showed to her husband, who was a wealthy Russian patron of the arts and surrounded himself with artists enthused by the idea of creating and reviving traditional Russian folk art.

The idea of a national identity, and preserving the history of Russian culture appealed to Mamontov, who founded a Children’s Education Workshop in Moscow. The workshop was opened with the intent to create children’s dolls highlighting traditional themes of Russian culture. At the workshop, after hearing from Mamotov’s wife of the Japanese Dolls, Sergei Maliutin a member of Mamontov’s circle of artists was inspired. Sergei Maliutin’s new idea took this concept and turned it into a symbol, a symbol not just of ingenuity like the Chinese boxes, or a symbol of wealth like Fabrege’s Eggs, but a symbol of Russia itself. This is the genesis of the Russian nesting dolls history.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Maliutin sketched his idea for the doll and asked for the help of accomplished and well known lather Vasili Zveydochin to craft the dolls.

The first set was made of linden wood, and painted in subtle earth tones; the dolls were dubbed "matryoshka". It was a fitting name for a round figure â&#x20AC;&#x153;wearingâ&#x20AC;? a sarafijin and an apron from which other dolls emerged. Inside the largest doll were a set of seven others, six girls and a boy all carrying symbols of Russian peasantry such as scythes, hens, or bowls. The female dolls all wore babushkas, or kerchiefs on their head, and the smallest doll was a baby wearing a diaper. The dolls were all decorated in a way which formed themes still found on many nesting dolls today. This set of pioneering matryoshki is still on display at the Museum of Toys in Zagorsk.

MATRЁSHKA

The first set of matrëshkas was presented at the world’s fair in paris in 1900 and won a bronze medal, as well as sparked a worldwide craze for the dolls and created a new russian icon.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

SECTION 1: CHAPTER 3

NAME ORIGIN The name Matryoshka comes from Russian female name Matriona. In old Russia among peasants the name Matriona or Matriosha was a very popular female name.

SCHOLARS SAY THIS NAME HAS A LATIN ROOT “MATER” AND MEANS “MOTHER”. This name was associated with the image of a mother of a big peasant family who was very healthy and had a portly figure. Subsequently, it became a symbolic name and was used especially to potray brightly painted wooden figurines made in a such way that they could be taken apart to reveal smaller dolls fitting inside one another.

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 1: CHAPTER 4

HOW ARE THE DOLLS MADE? Life of a Nesting Doll starts long before it is opened up by a child, or a collector, it starts as a tree. However, not just any tree will meet the requirements – its wood must be of a fine grain, to preserve its shape, and it must take well to various climates so the dolls can be enjoyed not just in their native Russia but wherever the wide market for the Matrëshka reaches.

After the wood has been deemed suitable to work with, it is cut into blocks and then taken to a worker who will use a lathe to carve out the shape of the doll. One block of wood is used to create the bottom of one large doll, and a separate block is used to create the top of one large doll, another block is used to create the top of the second largest doll, and so on.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

A five piece set will require nine pieces of wood; eight for the four larger dolls, and a single block for the baby doll which does not open. To meet the demand of this ever increasing market, the wood most not only be durable, but it must be easy to work with and soft, so that is able to be shaped quickly without cracking. With these specifications in mind the majority of artists and craftspeople choose the linden tree as their wood of choice for the Nesting Dolls. First the linden tree is felled, the branches are stripped, and the majority of the bark is removed. The remains of the tree are then cured to prevent damage to the wood. The length the wood is cured for depends on the weather, and the method by which the logs are stored. The curing process can range from under a year to over three tears. Improper preparations can result in a brittle warpable, or discolored wood. 20

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 2: CHAPTER 5

POPULAR MATRËSHKA THEMES It is possible to divide Nesting Dolls into

Traditional

three

categories: TRADITIONAL (folcloric ornamentation) POLITICAL ( faces of polititians) THEMATICAL (entertainment industry)

POLITICAL ≈ 30%

THEMATICAL

TRADITIONAL

≈ 10%

≈ 60%

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Political

Thematical

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 2: CHAPTER 6

TIMELINE The history of Nesting Doll making goes back almost 100 years. Even though manufacturing of Matrëshka Dolls has not stopped, consider-

Beginning of Craftsmanship 1890 - 1930

ing world wars and crisises, it is possible to divide the production of Nesitng Dolls into three periods:

The first period gave us the first Russian Matrëshka which were put onto base of modern Nesting Dolls.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Soviet Period

End of Soviet Era

1930 - 1990

1990 - Present

Blossom of Matrëshka types was inter-

In the beginning of 1990s when old

rupted by construction of socialism in

economic system was being destroyed,

Russia, known back then as USSR. The

artists and talented artisans gained

Soviet Government paid much attention

freedom for creation of new type of

to construction of factories, which pro-

matryoshkas and other crafts.

duced goods of people crafts. Hand-made goods were not allowed to be made in factories – they were not mass production items. A few Matrëshka types were developed for factory production: Semionovo type, Sergiev Passad type, Kirov (Viatka) type and some other.

Private making of Matrëshkas and production of other hand crafted things was forbidden in the USSR – craftsmen had to work at the factories and not show their art abilities – goods had to be simple enough for mass production.

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 3: CHAPTER 7

MATRËSHKA’S PORTFOLIO Matrëshka has been “living” for many years now, and it has a lot of images, pictures, drawings, sculptures, prints, clothes, house interior decorations and different forms of nick-nacks.

Almost everyone–who has ever seen Matrëshka Nesting Dolls–took a picture. People who visit Russia, and even Europe nowadays, have seen and bought at least one doll. It just has this kind of magic: you want to own it. Here’s a personal collection of Matrëshka photographs that show the diversity in its decoration and motifs. This portfolio contains traditionalmotifs Nesting Dolls.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRЁSHKA

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRĐ SHKA

SECTION 3: CHAPTER 8

WORLD R ECORDS

It is not unusual for MatrĂŤshkas to participate in events, to be shown on television, drawn, or be involved in an interesing activity. Guinnessworldrecords.com has registered one of the achievements involving the Nesting Dolls.

When all 51 pieces are lined up together touching, they measure 11 ft 2.25 in length. To break this record both the number of dolls in the set and the height of the tallest must be broken.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

According to Guiness records, the largest set of russian dolls is a 51-piece set handpainted by Yulia Bereznitskaia from Russia. The largest doll measures 1 foot and 9.25 inches (53.97 cm) in height, the smallest 0.125 in (0.31 cm) in height. The set was completed on 25 april 2003.

0.125"

MATRĐ SHKA

The Matryoshka Piazza Manchuria, North China Inner Mongolia (autonomous region)

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRËSHKA SQUARE Sitting at the China-Russia-Mongolia junction, Manzhouli in Hulunbuir League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has designed a matryoshka-themed square where locals and tourists can experience different types of architecture, snacks, souvenirs, workshops, and entertainment facilities. The Matrëshka Square, measuring an area of 540,000 square meters, is adorned with a 30-meter-tall Matrëshka Doll, deemed the largest of its kind worldwide, has become a major attraction in Manzhouli, China since June 5th, 2018.

The main doll features paintings of female images from the three nations China, Russia and Mongolia facing different directions. As the world’s largest Matrëshka Doll, it contains a church, a Russian restaurant, and a music hall in an area measuring 3,200 square meters.

MATRЁSHKA

Tourists and local schoolchildren visit this iconic tourist spot at the Matrëshka Square to experience the perfect fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. The square also contains around 200 small Matrëshka Dolls and some Easter eggs painted with distinctive images. When walking on the square, visitors can experience the craftsmanship of Matrëshka Dolls, and Russian snacks and desserts at various workshops.

Russian-style architecture on the Matrëshka Square in Manzhouli, Hulunbuir League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Russian-style architecture on the Matrëshka Square in Manzhouli, Hulunbuir League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

A carpenter at work in a Matrëshka workshop in Manzhouli

Matrëshka Dolls at a workshop in Manzhouli

Russian artisans paint Matrëshka Dolls at a workshop in Manzhouli

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 4: CHAPTER 9

COLORING MATRËSHKAS Nesting dolls are all garnished with splashes of individual charm, and the all of dolls’ pallet of colors, designs, motifs, and themes vary depending on the region in which they are produced.

Although the dolls were conceived in Moscow, their adopted home for the early years of their production was most certainly the city of Sergiev Posad, found about 50 miles North-East of Russia’s capital. Sergiev Posad’s workshops introduced the nesting doll to the world at the the Paris World Exhibition in 1900.

Typically painted with subdued earth tones using an opaque form of watercolor paint called gouche, the Sergiev Posad nesting dolls inspired many of the themes that are still present in the modern Matrëshka. Nesting dolls, like the original sets created by Maliutin and Zveydochin, featuring traditional marks of peasantry such as scythes, hens, and baskets were also popularized in Sergiev Posad. Despite the innovation attributed to the artists of Sergiev Posad, if you were asked to conjure up an image of a traditional nesting doll the chances are you would envision a creation from the town of Semyonov.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Surround by thick forests roughly 300 miles NorthEast of Moscow, the town of Semyonov is credited as the birthplace of Khokhloma painting. Khokhloma is a traditional Russian form of painting which features freehand brushstrokes and depicts a barrage of berries, birds, and leaves arranged at the discretion of the artist. This highly individual artistic method helped create

a type of nesting doll where no two features have the exact same design. The typical MatrĂŤshkas, or red roses as some people call it, unlike most dolls of its kind are crafted from birch wood as opposed to linden. The most popular of the variety depict a woman with dark hair, donning a red or yellow kokoshnik, or head dress, with a pattern or random arrangements of swirls or spirals on it.

These swirls, created by a curled up piece of fabric dipped in paint, not only add to the distinct look of each doll, but also cover up any imperfections in the wood. Each doll also features a uniquely arranged and asymmetrical pattern of roses colored with aniline paints. These dolls with faces so simply painted, yet so full of character, grace the shelves of many serious collectors; each its own personality, and each its own work of art.

MATRЁSHKA

In the history of the Matrëshka doll, the early dolls were prized for the skills of the turner and his ability to make a thin shell for the matryoshka. Woodworking was prized above painting. By the 1980s, this balance had shifted and the painting was considered to add more value than the wood turning. There were also two schools of emphasis in painting; one puts more importance on the doll’s face, and the other features the costume and its details.

Matrëshka artists are often also painters of religious icons (images of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious figures) that are revered in churches and private homes. Thus, the detail they can achieve in their chosen style is amazing. The painter is the next craftsman to work on the Matrëshka. Early Matrëshkas were painted with gouache, an opaque form of watercolor; today, high-quality tempera (colloid-based paint like poster paint), oil, and other paints (the same as those used by artists on canvas) are used to color the dolls. Watercolors are also used, but watercolor dolls are more rare and expensive because watercoloring wood is a difficult technique. The painters are true artists who know the character of the wood, the tradition of the matryoshka and other wooden toys, and national costume and folk tales, as well as their own individual artistic strengths. The themes used to paint the matryoshka are usually typical of the studio of the artist and the region and are suited to the size and shape of the dolls. The artistic style may be very coarse or extremely fine — sometimes, only a single hair from a brush is used to add eyelashes and threads of lace. Gold leaf is also added to enhance the detailing.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Some styles of MatrĂŤshka are colored with aniline (synthetic organic) dyes instead of paint. The dye has a lighter texture, more like watercolor, and dolls that are dyed usually have a more childlike style. The colors tend to be basic green (from a vegetable dye), fuchsine (a brilliant bluish red), blue, and yellow. Early examples of dolls colored with dye were also coated with glue that dried the colors to dark hues. Although the majority of MatrĂŤshkas are painted all over, some are not primed so the native wood is exposed. The wood becomes the background or thematic color of the doll, and paint is added to give her a face and costume. A heated poker is also used in some designs to burn in details of the doll including facial features and costume details. The doll may be left with only the poker work designs as her character, or the poker outlines may be filled with paint. All painted dolls are covered with lacquer to finish them and protect the paint. Some dolls with unpainted wood and poker detailing are not lacquered.

MATRЁSHKA

COLORING STYLES OF MATRËSHKA SERGIEV POSAD STYLE Until the end of 1990s of 19th century the Nesting Dolls were made in Moscow studio “Children’s Education,” and after its closure, production of nested dolls have moved to the training and demonstration workshops in Sergiev Posad near Moscow.

Sergiev Posad was a place where the first Matrëshka doll was made. This old Russian town is located 73 km (about 45 miles) from Moscow. It has grown up around famous Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery. In 1340 the monk Sergius founded a small temple lost in the midst of the wild thick forests. In time it was developed into the biggest monastery of Russia. Arts and crafts were flourished in the towns and

villages who surrounded the monastery. Wooden toys, which were known as “Trinity” toys, became particularly popular. According to the legend the first “Trinity” wooden toy was made by the Prior of the Monastery, Sergius Radonezhsky.

Sergiev Posad was a colorful, truly Russian town. The Monastery lent a unique peculiarity to it. The huge marketplace in front of the Monastery was almost always full of different people: merchants, monks, pilgrims and craftsmen milling around. 39

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

So this is natural that when craftsmen from Sergiev Posad heard about the funny wooden toy “matryoshka” some of them tried to replicate it and, as we can guess, they successeded in it and the new designs of nesting dolls were developed. Professional artists made the first painted Matrëshka nesting dolls just for fun. The stacking dolls were very expressive and they won admiration of adults and children.

In the initial period of Matrëshka development in Sergiev Posad, particularl attention was paid to faces of Matrëshka, clothes were not detail painted as they are painted and decorated now. Such dolls depicted different characters and types: peasants, merchants, and noblemen. The faces of the early Matrëshka dolls of Sergiev Posad were oval and strict. The

heads of many wooden Russian Dolls were greatly enlarged that’s why the face dominated the body. These dolls look primitive because of this disproportion but at the same time they are very expressive.

MATRЁSHKA

Sometimes a nesting doll portrayed the whole family with numerous children and members of households. Some Matrëshkas were devoted to historical themes. The described boyars (old Russia noblemen), legendary heroes bogatirs (warriors), some dolls were devoted to book character. The nesting dolls of Sergiev Posad consisted of 2 to 24 pieces. The most popular set of Matrëshka dolls consisted of 3, 8 and 12 pieces. In 1913 a 48-pieces Matrëshka made by N. Bulichev was displayed at the Exhibition of Toys in St. Petersburg.

Development of a nested doll greatly depended on turners’ skill. Highly skilled masters turned Russian dolls with very thin sides, which was considered to be a special art of Matrëshka turning. Apparently, painting was secondary. Professional artists who painted the first turned dolls did not treat it seriously enough. It was sort of entertainment. There are some nesting dolls - caricatures in the Museum Estate Polenovo. On other hand there were many independent workshops of Sergiev Posad where skilled artisans worked and they crated their own style of Russian Matrëshka Doll.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Folk art tradition was very important in the development of the present Sergiev Posad. Due to widest layer of folk culture, nesed doll Matrëshka continued to exist even after Russian style, developed by Russian professional artists was forgotten. Icon painters of Sergiev Posad contributed a lot to Matrëshka pictorial style. Anthropomorphism, in other words, resemblance to a human being of the Russia “take apart” nesting doll turned out to be the continuation of ancient Russian art tradition. An artist focused mainly on the figure of a person, his or her face. This tradition of Russian ancient art came from Byzantine Empire, which had borrowed it from ancient Greek culture. The connection of certain early type of the matryoshkas of Sergiev Posad with the tradition of the local icon painting school is confirmed both stylistically and virtually. Along with the icons, nesyting doll were painted as well in the icon painting school of Sergiev Posad.

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is located in the town of Sergiyev Posad

MATRЁSHKA

The stacking doll of Sergiev Posad has its own peculiarities: its top part flows smoothly into thicker lower part: it is painted with gouache and has a varnish surface. Despite of, or perhaps because of the popularity of the Matrëshkas of Sergiev Posad, Matrëshka-making center started to spring up in Russia. Initially Matrëshka dolls types were rather different: they portrayed both male and female characters. There are some ethnographic nested doll: Samoyed (Eskimo), Gypsy Woman, American Man, Turk, Chinese, Lithuanians, and Tartar Family, Ukrainian and so on. Gradually female character became the main type of matryoshkas. The tradition of making special Russian dolls proportion (1:2) that is ration between a doll’s width and height were worked out.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

SEMIONOVO STYLE

Semionovo is a large old center of wooden handicrafts. Huge thick forests, soil that is not good for agriculture, big outlet provided development of local people crafts. Of course, many changes occurred during long history of crafts in Semionovo but even now about 200 items are produced in factories and privately in this region, 33 countries import goods from this small town. Semionovo is famous for its wooden painted tableware, wooden toys and, of course, MatrĂŤshkas. The first mention about this settlement goes as far as 1644. There is a legend that Semionovo was founded by merchant Semion and a run-a-way monk from Solovky monastery. In 1779 in time of Catherine the Second 3000 inhabitants lived and worked in this place. As the town was surrounded by forests people used to make goods of wood for themselves and for sale. Some crafters made for their children and just for fun wooden toys, with time it became a profitable business.

The first matryoshka in Semionovo was made by Arsenty Mayorov who was well known by his wooden utensils, rattles, balls and apples. In 1924 he brought from the fair in Nizhny Novgorod unpainted nesting doll. His elder daughter Luba painted it using ordinary goose feather and aniline dyes, which were used for painting of toys. Almost 20 years MatrĂŤshka made by Mayorov were the best in the area of Nizhny Novgorod.

MATRЁSHKA

Gradually a distinct Matrëshka type of Semionovo was developed. It was more decorative and symbolic than the matryoshka from Sergiev Posad. Semionovo’s tradition goes back to the traditions of ancient Russia.

The painters of Semionovo used aniline dyes; they left quite a lot of unpainted space and varnished dolls. First of all, light touches of the brush mark the outlines of the face, eyes, the lines of the lips and apply color to the cheeks. Then a skirt, an apron, a scarf on the Matrëshka’s head and hands are drawn.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

An apron is considered to be the main thing in painting of Semionovo. A bright bouquet of flowers is painted on it. It is possible to recognize the technique of old Russian masters. The early Matrëshkas of Semionovo were more in the spirit of old Russian painting traditions, the lines were more graphic and lighter. It is easy to recognize a typical Semionovo shape of wooden form of matryoshka. It is slender and has a relatively thin top, which widens sharply into a thick bottom. Now Semionovo nesting dolls are made at the factory “Semionovskaya Rospis” and they continue old traditions. The artists at the factory designed many new nesting dolls painted in Semionovo style. In present time the factory met a specific for our time problem – the copyright problem. Many individual artisans and small workshops make copies of Semionovo style nesting dolls but their quality often is not good, especially quality of finishing. Nesting dolls and other products produced at the “Semionovskaya Rospis” factory have good quality of painting and perfect lacquer finishing.

MATRЁSHKA

POLKHOVSKY MAIDAN STYLE

Polkhovsky Maidan is located to the SouthWest of Nizhny Novgorod. It is a motherland of another style of Matrëshkas and nesting dolls. The river Polkhovka in old times was wide and big, and was surrounded by forests – that is why people chose this place to settle a new village. Now Polkhovka became a small stream meanwhile the village turned into a center of crafts. The first nesting doll was made in Polkhovsky Maidan in 1930s.

Wooden workmanship was an old tradition in Maidan. Any toys were made on turning lather: samovars, birds, money-box, salt-cellars. The craftsmen of Polkhovsky Maidan like the craftsmen of Semionovo use aniline dyes. The Matrëshkas were pasted over, brightly painted before being coated with varnish. The colors of the Matrëshkas of Polkhovsky Maidan are brighter and more expressive than the colors of the matryoshkas of Semionovo, their ornaments are bigger as well. Green, blue, yellow, violet and crimson colors are used to contrast each other, to make an expressive and bright ornament. Richness of color is achieved by superim-posing one layer of dye on another.

The Matrëshkas of Polkhovsky Maidan are manufactured in the peasant primitive style which resembles children’s drawings. It is a typical village beauty with knitted brows and a face framed in black locks. The ringlets of hair are a genuine element of local women’s headdress.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Older women covered their hair with kokoshniks, young girls used ribbons. Black drake’s feathers were stuck in their headdresses. The painters of Polkhovsky Maidan as the painters of Semionovo paid their special attention to floral ornament of Matrëshkas’ aprons. They ignored other details of a Matrëshka’s costume.

Dog-rose with many petals is the main element of apron painting. This flower is always considered to be the symbol of femininity, love and motherhood. This flower is a part of each composition of the craftsmen of Polkhovsky Maidan. Sometimes this theme is developed and a painter adds to the main rose its buds on the branches.

MATRĐ SHKA

SECTION 5: CHAPTER 10

FINISHING OF THE DOLLS The painter completes his or her set of matryoshka by adding his signature to the bottom of the largest doll as well as a number showing the number of nests in the set.

After the paint has dried, the dolls are finished with a protective coating. Wax and varnish are used rarely, and lacquer is the most common finish. For the artistic sets, at least five coats of lacquer are applied.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

SECTION 6: CHAPTER 11

BYPRODUCTS AND WASTE

Matryoshka making does not produce any byproducts although the artistic centers where they are crafted usually make other wood products. The seasoning of the wood is time consuming, and, when the wood is ready for turning, woodworkers avoid waste whenever possible. Similarly, the painters are highly skilled craftsmen and little paint or lacquer waste is generated.

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 7: CHAPTER 12

HOW TO DRAW MATRËSHKA Step One

First sketch out the outlines of the nesting doll . Now draw a shape similar to bowling pin. Try to draw the figure as symmetrical as possible. In order to ensure symmetry, look at the drawing through the mirror. In a mirror image, you will immediately see all the mistakes. Step Two In this step, start adding items. First, draw a line at the upper part of the figure, in the area of the neck. Slightly above this line, draw a circle, in which you will draw a face. At the end of this step draw the stand in the bottom of the Matrëshka.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Step 3

At this step sketch out the lines of the facial symmetry. First draw a vertical line which will help to find the centre of the face. Then draw a horizontal line which will help us to draw eyes. Slightly above the eye line draw the line of eyebrows. And slightly below the eye line draw the lines of nose and mouth. Notice, that the distance between the horizontal lines are approximately equal.

Step 4 Now, using the lines from the previous step, draw facial features. At first draw eyes and paint them black, leaving one white glare in each eye. Note â&#x20AC;&#x201C; glares must be in the right parts of eyes. Using curved lines draw the eyebrows eyelashes. Draw a nose that looks like a pair of dots. Then draw a plump lips and circles of rouge on cheeks.

MATRЁSHKA

Step 5

This step is very short, here we draw the knot of scarf, which will be located just below the face of Matrëshka. This knot will consist of the center – the usual circle, and side parts – two figures, similar to the leaves. Also draw the hair protruding from under the top of the scarf.

Step 6 At the edges of the body draw sleeves and palms. In order to ensure the symmetry of the figure you can look at it through the mirror.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Step 7 Now draw a pattern in the center of the body of thre nesting doll. Basically, you can choose the pattern that you want to. Importantly, to retain the overall style of the drawing, that is looks like a Russian folk painting.

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 8: CHAPTER 13

MATRËSHKA’S COST Matrëshka’s prices range from $6 to $10 000, and see if you can find a very similar doll! Because of their time consuming production methods, authentic Russian nesting dolls are not mass produced anywhere in the world. The first Matrëshka dolls found a somewhat unexpected audience. Although the dolls were originally created with children in mind, their expensive production costs soon put them out of reach for all but the wealthy. So instead, adults started to collect them which is probably why so many sets survived to this day.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

SECTION 9: CHAPTER 14

MATRËSHKA AS AN ATTRIBUTE Aside from their fascinating stackable nature, Russian nesting dolls are admired for their colorful artwork and mysterious nature. This feature of Matrëshkas allows them to be a part of many artworks, events, and even poems. Matrëshka pattern can give fabric cheerful meaning and can certainly attract a buyer. Traditionally Nesting Dolls made in Russia were meant to entertain, I think the folcloric concept is being preserved well, because Matrëshkas still aspire to smile and guess.

MATRЁSHKA

MATRËSHKA TATTOO For example, Matrëshka tattoos are at high demand. Sometimes they are colorful and sometimes not, but despite the visual perception, easch tattoo certainly has a meaning.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRЁSHKA

MATRËSHKA AT THE OLYMPICS Winter Olympic Games of 2014 were held in Russia, particularly in Sochi city. Russia was very proud to host Olympic Games and wanted to impress its guests and visitors with decorations and hospitality.

The first breakout star of the 2014 Sochi Olympics wasn’t an athlete at all. It was a giant Matrëshka Doll on the slopestyle course at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. When the Winter Games began with men slopestyle, viewers couldn’t miss the enormous Russian nesting doll stationed on the course.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRЁSHKA

WINTER OLYMPIC SPORTS NESTING DOLL

It was an obvious and very symbolic to produce Matrëshkas for the Olympic Games in 2014. This symbol is forever a collectible item and will be cherished by many. This set, for example, is dedicated to athletes, who won the medals. Winter sport enthusiasts love this Matrëshka depicting some of the most popular sports of the Winter Olympic Games. Team USA leads the field in Snow Boarding, Ice Hockey, Snow Skiing, and Figure Skating. Made at the Golden Cockerel workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia, this nesting doll is another Matrëshka original.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRĐ SHKA

MATRĂ&#x2039;SHKA POEM

The four-year-old wearing her dancing dress is pulling dolls apart in search of the smallest self. She knows the baby when she finds it and the nucleus knows her, how she is cradled at the center of the world. In return, she gives it shape. The dolls are Russian. Shaper carves the smallest first, using her to measure out the rest. She is plainsong, unison, pure voice, a small arrival right in time.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

The one who holds her finds her note within the chord, the chant where words agree and prayer is born â&#x20AC;&#x201C; belonging fits, a symmetry of mind in mind, the snugness of a cap, a canticle of fellow feeling: how deep in we go. We correspond; joy complete is heart inside her heart inside my heart dancing in December beside the blazing stove.

Unknown author

MATRЁSHKA

MATRËSHKA VIDEO GAME

“Stacking” is a video game that was released on various platforms from 2011-13 and is based on Matrëshka Dolls. Players control Charlie Blackmore, the smallest doll, as he goes inside larger dolls. Explore a vintage world inhabited by living Russian stacking dolls as you jump into more than 100 unique dolls and use their special abilities to solve a wide variety of puzzles & challenges. This imaginative 3rd person puzzle adventure game will take you on a journey from a bustling Royal Train Station to a high-flying Zeppelin as you collect unique dolls and matched stacking sets to display in your secret hideout.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Its designer, Tim Schafer, was inspired to create the game after he saw his daughter playing with Russian nesting dolls.

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 10: CHAPTER 15

ARE NESTING DOLLS SAFE? THE MYTHS AND THE FACTS Myth 1 Certain nesting doll retailers sell “Certified Child Friendly” dolls

Fact 1 There is no standard called “Child Friendly”. The name was created by a certain retailer and the standards created by the retailer that is meant to assure the buyer, that the doll was painted by non-toxic paints and does not include attachments that can be broken through the application of pressure. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) provides for a method to test Matrëshkas to

Myth 2

ensure they meet a high standard

Russian nesting dolls are

for child safety.

unsafe for children

Fact 2 There is no reasonable retailer that will deny that the smaller pieces of a nesting doll represent a swallowing and/or choke hazard to a child. In addition, most nesting dolls are coated with a lacquer that can be chewed away. No nesting doll is immune to this and all retailers recommend that dolls be played with under proper supervision and care of an adult.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Myth 3 Nesting dolls are a fire hazard

Fact 3 Typical nesting dolls will not easily catch fire. The lacquer coating, while it can burn, is not considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;flammableâ&#x20AC;?. The inside of nesting dolls may not be as protected, but (again), protection from burning occurs when children are properly supervised when playing with the dolls.

Myth 4 Nesting dolls are made in China where the use of lead-based

Fact 4 A buyer can inadvertently stumble across a nesting doll that is not made in Russia or is made from an non-reputable source. The primary retailers, however, get their dolls from reputable artists and wholesalers or (in some cases) manufacturer some of their own dolls. Purchasing from a single person or an entity that does not focus on Russian This research was conducted by the

goods increases this risk. Overall, the

authors of www.styleofrussia.com.

larger Russian retailers sell only le-

This web site sells authentic Russian souvenirs and attributes

gitimate Russian-made nesting dolls.

MATRЁSHKA

SECTION 11: CHAPTER 16

USING MATRËSHKAS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN Matrëshka Nesting Dolls come in all shapes, sizes, and numbers of pieces per set. The most basic sets are 3-5 pieces with simple paintings. Not only are they beautiful as decoration, but they are also a great tool for teaching educational concepts.

Because Matrëshkas are adaptable to teaching a variety of concepts, it is a great sibling learning activity. All of the activities can also be done in the language of your choice–making it a great language learning experience!

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

1. To start at the very basics, Matrëshkas are great for teaching number concepts and counting. Don’t just have your children count each piece, give them the numbers too. You could mix a couple sets together to get into higher numbers for children who have already mastered numbers 1-5! If you have a bunch of sets, like 3 sets of 5 piece Matroshkas, you could even use them for basic multiplication. The possibilities are endless!

2. Then there is ordering/sequencing by size. Encourage your kids to put them in order from big to small AND small to big. You could also ask, “How fast can you assemble the Matrëshkas and put them in order from smallest to biggest?.” This way, a child is given a two step direction, and can practice fine motor skills and ordering by size, while getting a challenge by racing the clock!

3. They are also great for letting kids practice their fine motor skills. Opening and closing little sets of Nesting Dolls trains coordination and hand muscles.

MATRЁSHKA

4. You cannot forget the power of vocabulary! It is important to use and explain the size words, because children do not always have the understanding of vocabulary; small, medium, big, short, tall, smaller, smallest, bigger, biggest, tiny, tinier, tiniest and any other words you may want to use to describe size.

6. Storytelling is an amazing imaginary activity. Matroshka may lend perfectly to the retelling of the story of the “Repka”, or “Turnip”. It is when the old man planted a turnip, and kept on telling it to grow bigger and bigger. And when it grew to a gigantic size, he went to pull it out and he couldn’t do it by himslef, so he had to call his wife. When both of them tried pulling and the turnip still remained in the ground they called their granddaughter, and then they called the dog, and then the cat, and then the mouse and finally the turnip ripped off the ground! This story teaches team work and hard work.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRЁSHKA

INDEX Art of Japan, 11 Babushka, 7 Benzaiten, 12 Bishamonten, 12 Children’s Education Workshop, 14 Chinese nesting boxes, 9 CPSIA, 66 Daikokuten, 12 Dog rose, 47 Ebisu, 12 Fine motor skills, 69 First set of Matrëshka, 15, 16, 38 Fukurojuro, 10, 12 God of Happiness, 10 Golden idols, 12 Guinness records, 28 Hotei, 12 Jumala, 11 Jurojin, 12 Khokhloma, 35 Linden tree, 19 Lucky number seven, 9 Matrëshka Square, 31 Matriona, 17 Mother, 17

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Mauzhouli, China, 30, 31 Museum Estate Polenovo, 40 Museum of Toys, 15 Number concepts and counting, 69 Olympic games, 58, 60 Order sequence, 69 Polkhovsky Maidan, 46, 47 Political, 20, 21 Repka, 70 Russian culture, 14 Russian monk, 11 Savva Mamontov, 14 Semionovo, 43, 44, 45 Semionovskaya Rospis, 45 Sergei Maliutin, 14, 15, 34 Sergiev Posad, 34, 38, 40, 41, 42, 44 Seven Gods of Luck, 10, 12 Song Dynasty, 9 Soviet Period, 23 Storytelling, 70 Takarabune, 10 Thematical, 20, 21 Traditional, 20 Trinity toys, 38 Vocabulary, 70

MATRЁSHKA

REFERENCES AND CREDITS

Ertl, Rett, and Rick Hibberd. The Art of the Russian Matryoshka. 1st ed., Vernissage, 2003 “The History of Russian Nesting Dolls.” The Russian Store, www.therussianstore.com “Largest Russian Nesting Doll .” Guinness World Records, Guinness World Records, www.guinnessworldrecords.com Leftkoviz, Michelle Lyons, A Collector’s Guide to Nesting Dolls. Histories, Identification, Values. Florence, Alabama, Books Americana Inc, 1989 Marder, Marina & Soloviova Larissa, Russian Matryoshka. Moscow, J.V Interbook, 1992 Double Fine Productions Styleofrussia.com Zhao Xiao at chinadaily.com.cn

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

Photo credits Photo by Steven Su on Unsplash Art of Japan, Kusuyama, Principle Co., Ltd Photo by Arina Anashkina Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash Photos by Yulia Usmanova Photos by Alina Joukova-Seamon Photos by Victoria Bulat Photos by Irina Bazhko Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash Photo by Wei Pan on Unsplash Photo by Raul Cacho Oses on Unsplash Photo by Ana Abrahao Photo by Deanna Taylor Photo by Graceland Photo by ISA Art Photo by Joice Wang Photo by Jordan Ashley Photo by Karl Marks Photo by Maksim Lopez Photo by Rebecca Sophia Photo by Sean Younker Photo by Tommy Rattle Photos by Tommy Rattle Photos by GoldenCockerel.com Photos by Tim Schafer

MATRЁSHKA

SPECIAL THANKS I would like to thank my friends and family, my husband–Jorge Vergara– especially, for supporting me throughout this project. It was a great experience to write about Russian culture, and what defined it. Big thanks to Yulia Usmanova, Alina Joukova-Seamon, Victoria Bulat, Irina Bazhko who gladly took as many pictures as they could, so this book can have a wide variety of Matrëshka images. Thanks to my fellow students at the Academy of Art University and to my professor William Culpepper for guiding me from beginning to end of the creation of “Matrëshka: history of Russian Nesting Dolls”.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

MATRЁSHKA

USE OF LETTER "Ë" First of all, the pronunciation of this letter in English sounds like "yo". So whenever the letter is in the context, it’s easy to differentiate this sound. It is an essential part of Russian alphabet to use letter "ë". This letter not only guides in the right direction of the word pronnciation, but also is a historical part of creating Russian alphabet, Kirilitsa. Not many nations use this letter in writing, but whichever nation does – it is pronounced differently.

In this book I wanted to make sure to write Matrëshka using this letter “ë”, because I think it adds more symbolism and cultural feeling to the contents of the book.

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

RUSSIAN ALPHABET

АБВГДЕЁЖЗИЙКЛМНОП РСТУФХЦЧШЩЪЫЬЭЮЯ абвгдеёжзийклмнопрст уфхцчшщъыьэюя

HISTORY OF NESTING DOLLS

M AT R Ë S H K A

across the globe. From their introduction to the

M AT R Ë S H K A HISTORY OF RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS

is an ultimate guide to undestanding the value of Russian culture.

HISTORY OF RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS Edited by Anastasia Vergara