Cottage "matryoshka" set.
Title |
Cottage "matryoshka" set. |
Description |
A matryoshka doll, also known as Russian nesting/nested dolls, refers to a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The word "matryoshka" literally means "little matron." The number of nested figures is traditionally at least five, but can be much more. Matryoshka dolls are often designed to follow the original theme of peasant girls in traditional dress, but the theme can be anything, from fairy/folk tale characters or animals to caricatures of famous people. This set seems to represent a folk tale, maybe Hansel and Gretel. It includes a decorated cottage, a grandmother doll and two small dolls (which cannot be taken apart). The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890. The toy earned a bronze medal at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris. Soon after, matryoshka dolls were being made in several places in Russia and shipped around the world. The dolls are constructed from one block of wood to create a proper fit; different pieces of wood would have unique expansion-contraction characteristics and moisture content. First, the smallest doll (which cannot be taken apart) is made on a turning lathe, and the size and shape will determine that of the larger dolls. Next, the bottom and top halves of the next doll are made separately, with a ring on the bottom made to fit into an inset on the top portion. The upper part is placed on the lower half and allowed to dry, which tightens the ring to its upper fitting to ensure the halves will close securely. After all the dolls are made, they are treated, painted, and coated, before nesting them inside one another. The artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be extremely elaborate--Edited from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
Subject |
Dolls--Russia--Specimens.; Nesting dolls--Russia--Specimens.; Art, Russian--Specimens. |
Publisher |
[Russia] : [producer not identified] |
Date |
[19--?] |
Rights |
Giertz Education Center @ the Krannert Art Museum |
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