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I was looking around the internet this morning for inspiration on an article to write about Russian dolls.  Searching through Google Russia I hit a dead end.  It was only when I did a search in the UK that I came across the most extraordinary thing!  Images of a beautiful square (Taowa Square) covered with matryoshka buildings and shops within the square selling more matryoshka than most of us have had hot dinners!

Surprisingly, matryoshka square is in the Chinese city of Manzhouli and not in Russia as one may have expected.  As you can see from the photograph above, visitors are greeted with a truly striking site on their approach to the square.  The Russian doll in the centre holds the world record as the largest in the world measuring an amazing 30 metres (98 feet) tall!

When visitors reach the centre of the square they can see the stunning artwork painted upon each of the matryoshka.  Interestingly, each of the Russian dolls are painted with the images of Russian, Chinese and Mongolian girls to reflect the ethnicities in the region (the city borders both Russia and Mongolia).

As well as the three larger Russian dolls to be seen there are over 200 other dolls, each decorated with paintings of famous people from around the world.  Even the gift shops are in the shape of nesting dolls and, well, you don’t really need me to tell you what they sell!

The square has been open since 2006 and is a must-see attraction for anyone fascinated with Russian dolls.  To make visits extra memorable, there is a light and fountain show in the square every evening at 9pm.  I can imagine this must make for a great experience seeing the dolls come to life under the lights!

I myself would love to visit this city…now it’s just a case of trying to find some money to get there!

Written by Gary Mullen, Russian Dolls.

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Images supplied courtesy of Sina.com.

Located around 45 miles from Moscow, Sergiev Posad is a beautiful city which is noted for, amongst other things, it’s beautiful buildings and as the birthplace of Russian Dolls (also known as Matryoshka). This article will explore two of the most important buildings in the city and also why the city is considered the toy-making capital of Russia.

Sergiev Posad is home to the most important of all the Russian monasteries. The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a grand building which dates back to 1345 where it was built by one of the most respected Russian saints, Sergius of Randonezh. The monastery quickly became one of the most important in Russia and is now the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. From its humble beginnings in 1345 the monastery was extended over the centuries with the most notable addition being the Assumption Cathedral which was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1559. This Cathedral took over twenty-six years to construct and today houses over 300 monks.

View of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Another important building in Sergiev Posad is the Museum of Toys. This museum celebrates a city which has risen to become the largest wooden toy producer in Russia. The city has been producing wood carvings and toys for centuries and some of these toys are exhibited in the museum. Perhaps the most famous of the toys are Russian dolls. These dolls were invented by a painter who worked in a crafts workshop in the city. These very first Russian dolls can today be seen at the museum which first opened in 1918.

After the first Russian dolls were produced they became instantly popular and were in demand throughout the rest of the country. This saw production of all toys within Sergiev Posad boom during the nineteenth century with the city housing thousands of craftspeople producing all kinds of toys (including Russian dolls). Today, the dolls are as popular as ever and there are still thousands of craftspeople in the city who are involved with making the toys. In fact, there are still two working toy factories in the city and even special schools that train their students on the art of making Russian dolls.

Many of the toys are produced in these factories but, perhaps even more are made from those craftspeople that work in their own homes. One such lady is our friend, Elena Beytane. Working from her home in the city, Elena has been making her Russian dolls since she was a teenager. Like most of the craftspeople in the city, she lets her emotions guide the style of painting for each doll. For those craftspeople that create Russian dolls, they believe that by letting their emotions guide their work then each doll actually becomes an extension of themselves. This ensures that each Russian doll is unique to that artist and no two dolls are ever the same.

Sergiev Posad is an important city in Russia. It is not only the home of the Russian Orthodox Church but is also home to the largest toy producing city in the country, producing crafts that both young and old enjoy.

Please follow the link if you would like to see some of Elena’s Russian dolls.

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Many people often ask me how Russian matryoshka dolls are made. With their fascinating artwork and construction the dolls have intrigued many of my customers. So, I thought it was time to share how the matryoshka are produced. And, you may be surprised at just how much work goes into each set!

An artist at work on her dolls

The first preparations actually start years before the dolls are to be made. The tree from which the dolls are produced (usually lime, birch, aspen or larch) needs to be straight, without any knots and cut down in early autumn or winter, so it holds as little sap as possible. The trunk is then stored to allow it to dry which usually takes 2-3 years. During this drying the Russian dolls are carved to ensure that, once dry, the top and bottom half of each doll fit together perfectly.

When the drying process has been completed the Russian dolls are ready to be grained and primed. After this, all the fun creative things can happen! The artist will first draw with pencil the eyes, face and clothing on each doll. When the drawing has been completed the artist will check their work to ensure it meets their quality standards. If not, the doll is then redrawn until the artist is satisfied. After the drawings are finished the artist will then use acrylic paint to complete the doll and give it its individual character. Occasionally, a pattern is burned into the doll before it is painted.

A lacquer is then applied to each Russian doll to protect it from discolouration. This ensures that the doll will age well and the quality will not deteriorate over time. The lacquer also protects the dolls from dust and gives them a fine sheen.

When buying a Russian doll the quality of its craftsmanship should be examined. Each doll should fit into one another easily and each half of the doll should require a little force to separate them. If the dolls do this then they have been well made.

There are thousands of different Russian dolls available around the world. Each with its own unique artist, character and feel. Please follow the link if you would like to see some of Russian Dolls stocked at HandcraftedUK.

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The Beginning

During the 1890′s a painter of Russian folk crafts, Sergei Maliutin produced the world’s first matryoshka doll. He was inspired to make the dolls as, when visiting the Japanese island of Honsu he came into possession of the Japanese ‘fukuruma’ doll. These dolls depicted an old Japanese man doll which inside contained nesting dolls which decreased in size. Maliutin decided to draw a Russian version of the doll in his workplace ‘The Children’s Education Workshop’ on the Abramtsevo estate. This workshop was owned by Savva Mamontov. The name of the dolls comes from the Russian name ‘Matryona’ which was a popular name for peasant women in old Russia. After his death, Mamontov’s wife exhibited the first matryoshka dolls during the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The dolls were instantly popular and earned a bronze medal from the exhibition. This ensured that Russian dolls became well known throughout the world and demand for them increased.

An example of some Russian Dolls

After the World Exhibition

The Children’s Education Workshop was closed soon after the first matryoshka’s were made so production of the dolls moved to the city of Sergiev-Posad. Here the dolls were made in many different styles and the images on them can reflect a time in history. For example, during the Soviet Union era many Russian dolls were painted with images of Soviet leaders. The size of each doll would often correspond to how long each leader had been in power. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many different images appeared on the dolls including people, animals and nature.

The dolls have become associated with fertility and motherhood. It is not uncommon to see a smiling mother-like figure as the large doll with her children contained inside her.

The dolls which started out in a small workshop in Russia have are now proving popular throughout the world. With their interesting history and varied styles the matryoshka doll has been embraced across different cultures.

Please check out our range of Russian Dolls.

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