Matryoshka dolls, or Russian dolls, are a ubiquitous sight at souvenir shops throughout Russia. They’re also incredibly popular all across the globe; some people collect them as a hobby and others just buy them as souvenirs. But how many of us know the history behind these beloved toys? Or understand how they’re made? Most importantly: where are they coming from? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of matryoshkas and discover everything there is to know about these charming little wooden dolls!
The history behind the Russian Doll or Matryoshka
The history of the Russian Matryoshka doll is rich and complex. The exact origins of the dolls are unknown, but they were first seen in Russia during the 19th century. Matryoshka dolls are thought to have originated in Eastern Europe as early as 1860, but their popularity grew when they became associated with traditional Russian folktales and stories that began circulating around World War One.
In the years following World War Two, it was common for families to keep an entire set of matryoshkas: one nesting inside another until you reached a small wooden figurine (or babushka) at the center. These days it’s common practice for collectors to buy only one or two dolls from a set rather than collecting them all—they’re often sold individually online or at markets around Russia—but having multiple sizes is still pretty cool if you like playing with your food!
The changing colours and shapes of the Russian Doll
The first step in identifying a matryoshka doll is to consider its colour. The original design of the nesting doll included only four colours: white, black, yellow and red. However, as time passed by, more colours were added to the design such as blue and green. These new colours came about because of their similarity with traditional Russian attire; for example, green was used because it resembled the colour of uniforms worn in Tsarist Russia. As well-trained craftsmen began producing these toys at an increased rate during World War II (1939-1945), they started to add more variety to their designs by including new hues like purple and pink; these choices were made based on popular preferences within society at large rather than anything else which shows us how truly powerful consumerism has become over time! After all those years spent perfecting your craftsmanship skillset? Well done! Now we’ve got some good news: there’s no need for your hard work ever to stop here…
The artisans who make them
Matryoshka dolls are made by artisans who specialize in this craft. Each doll is hand-painted, carved and assembled by those experts. The material they use to make these dolls is a soft, light wood called linden or lime tree. The colour of the doll comes from a special dye created by mixing ammonia with indigo leaves. Afterward, it is dried and ground into powder before being mixed with water to create a dye that can be painted onto the wood used for each piece of the Matryoshka set.
To make each piece of the set you need to first carve out all its details using chisels, knives and other tools (this process can take up to three days). Then you paint it with a mixture made from watercolours and oil paint that gives each layer its own colour (this step takes about 24 hours). Finally, once everything has dried completely you assemble all layers together using glue which holds them together tightly so when someone goes through them one after another there will not be any gap between the two parts making sure that no other layers show through except for those on top or bottom level only!
The process of painting a doll
The process of painting a doll is a time-consuming and detailed one. Each doll is painted with a mixture of colours, then dried, and then painted again. This process is repeated for every layer of paint on the doll’s surface. The more layers of paint that go into making your Matryoshka, the more beautiful it will be!
When you create your very own Matryoshka, you’ll want to consider that it takes an artist at least 5 days to paint just one wooden doll. Then they must let it dry for several days before they can move on to their next piece. So if you’re interested in creating multiple dolls at once (or buying them), we recommend purchasing more than one at once so that we can ship them together and save on shipping costs!
The history and art behind matryoshkas, or wooden nesting dolls.
The artisans who make matryoshkas are known for their intricate and painstaking craftsmanship. The process of painting a doll is a long one, with artists working on each piece for weeks or even months before it’s complete. While the colour and design may be similar (and largely influenced by what was painted on the next level of nesting dolls), every doll’s portrait is unique.
In addition to being beautiful in their own right, matryoshkas have been used as an artistic medium by some of Russia’s most famous painters throughout history. Artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Ilya Repin and Boris Kustodiev all painted on the surface of these wooden dolls using oil paints or tempera paints—the latter often applied over gold leaf backgrounds.
Conclusion
That’s the history of matryoshkas! Now you know more about these dolls than your friends do and can impress them with your knowledge. If you want to learn more about Russian culture, check out the discover Russia website.
