The nesting dolls -
Matrioshka is the most famous Russian toys, a symbol of Russia, and considered to be one of the phenomenon in the
world folk art. It is very popular not only with
the connoisseurs of the language, history and culture of this country but also by those who just begin
their acquaintance with Russia.
It is hard to imagine now that only about one
hundred years ago Matrioshka has not existed at all. The first one appeared only at the end of the 19th
century when a new artistic trend known as 'Russian style' appeared. The legendary
Matrioshka was made in
the workshop 'Children's Education ' of A. I. Mamontov (an owner of a printing-house, publisher,
translator and a collector of Russian paintings). He gathered in his studio highly qualified creative toy
makers who had talent, initiative and fantasy.
A famous predecessor and prototype of Russian
nesting doll was brought to Russia from the Island of Honshu (Japan), by the way the Japanese claimed
that the first doll of such type was made by unknown Russian monk. It was a figurine of a good-natured
bold headed old man, Buddhist sage. Now this figurine is kept in the Artistic Pedagogical Museum of Toys
in Sergiev Posad (Russia).
In provincial Russia the name Matriona,
Babushka Dolls, Matrushka, Matrioshka, Matryoshka or Matriosha was a very popular female name. It was
associated with the image of a mother of a big family who was very healthy and had a portly figure.
Subsequently it became a symbolic name.
Even now Matrioshka is considered to be a
symbol of motherhood and fertility. A mother doll with numerous dolls-children perfectly expresses the
oldest symbol of human culture.
