Nesting dolls generally refer to Russian matryoshka dolls. Matryoshka dolls are Russian wooden toys. It is generally composed of a plurality of hollow wooden dolls with the same pattern, which can be up to more than ten. Matryoshka dolls are usually cylindrical, with a flat bottom and can stand upright. Its colors are red, blue, green, purple, etc. The most common pattern is a girl in Russian national costume called Matroshka, which has become the common name for this doll.
Origin of nesting dolls
In the 14th century, nesting dolls first originated in the ancient Russian town of Zagorsk, 70 kilometers south of Moscow. Due to the exquisite carving and painting skills of craftsmen from generation to generation and the accumulation of Russian national culture, it is loved by children and adults from all over the world. The earliest idea of Russian nesting dolls was wooden dolls made to please children. Children love fairy tales, so the famous characters and animals in the stories are made into dolls. Over time, nesting dolls developed their own style, with dolls of different sizes placed one on top of the other, making it more interesting. Gradually, the matryoshka material became more and more abundant. In addition to fairy tale characters, historical figures, powerful dignitaries and even people and things around them in daily life have become the objects of creation. According to the number of small dolls contained in the stomach, nesting dolls have been divided into 5-piece sets, 7-piece sets, 12-piece sets, 15-piece sets and so on.
The making process of nesting doll
The craftsmanship of Russian nesting dolls is very sophisticated, and the preparation of wood alone takes time. Lyme and birch are ideal woods for making nesting dolls. Usually in early spring when the tree is rich in sap, the tree is cut down and the bark is stripped, leaving only a few rings of bark to prevent the wood from cracking. Then expose to the air for ventilation. If making a medium-sized doll, it takes two years to dry. If you want to make 15-piece dolls, then the inner wall of each doll should be very thin, and the requirements for wood will be higher. Generally, it will take 5 to 6 years to dry. It is made by the process of lasting, hot flower, gold inlay and so on. Each doll goes through 15 processes, and the size is not measured by tools, but determined by the artist's feeling and experience. Their unique handmade designs make the nesting dolls unique and universally loved!