The Russian doll that we all know exists, as people think, from a dim and distant past. As a matter of fact it’s only 100 years old.
The Russian doll appeared in Moscow, in A. Mamontov’s toy workshop called “Child’s upbringing”. Once a Japanese doll, representing a kind wise man Fakurumu, whose head dot big from constant thinking, was brought here. The doll could be opened and it contained a few smaller ones, representing the members of a wise man’s big family, inserted one in another. This reminded wooden vessels, which were inserted one in another. Russian masters skillfully made these vessels. Artist S. Maljutin, an author of many pictures about Russia’s way of life, made a sketch of a new toy: a girl with plump cheeks in a pinafore dress, holding a black cockerel in her hands. After a girl there was a boy, then girl again. All eight figurines of dismantleable doll were different, and the last one represented a baby in nappies.
The common people called the doll “Matrjona” or “Matrjoshka” – a popular and beloved name. The toy became popular very quickly and the word “Matrjoshka” became a common noun.
The methods of making Russian dolls were quickly mastered thanks to the skill of Russian turners, as the art of making wooden toys was old and traditional for Russia. The Russian dolls drew buyers’ attention at once thanks to their originality. In 1900, they were exhibited at Paris international exhibition, fascinating foreigners. Soon the workshop in Sergiev Posad near Moscow (the production of Russian dolls was rebased) got a big order for the toys. The Russian dolls were bought in thousands at international fairs.
The production of Russian dolls also began in Niznegorodsk province. The masters gave the dolls another form and special paintings. Maidan’s Russian doll (village Polhovsk’s Maidan), for example, differed from others by its “serious” face, framed by black locks. These locks represent authentic detail of old local women’s clothes: women got hair under headscarf and decorated it with black feathers of drake.
The choice of Russian dolls got big and diverse: toys with sheaves, sickles, bouquets; dolls of a bride and bridegroom in their dresses appeared, containing their numerous relatives inside. Russian dolls, devoted to historical and jubilee dates, were made. Thus, in 1909, Russian dolls “Taras Bulba” and “Mayor”, containing all the characters from “Inspector” comedy, devoted to the 100th anniversary of N. V. Gogol’s birthday were made.
The Russian dolls are being made in different places now. They are all different: Semjonovsky’s dolls hold bouquets, Zagorsk’s “smile” more, than other toys, Tversk’s dolls are decorated with burnt out pictures, Vyatsk’s ones are decorated with inlay of colourful straws. The number of parts may also differ. Some turners make up to 30 and more figurines. Semjonovsky master Evgeny Bezrukov made 70 russian dolls in one.
L.Ivchenko
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