Divine World of Nesting Dolls

Babushka Dolls

You may call them Dolls within Dolls,  Nesting Dolls, Nested Dolls,  Babushka Dolls, Authentic Russian Matryoshka Dolls, Divine Dolls, Russian Craft Dolls, Russian Nesting Dolls, Russian Babushka whatever you name them are a time-honored Russian tradition.
These strange dolls within dolls are made and sold in every country but their origin is purely

Russian. A set of such dolls consist of a bigger wooden doll hiding another dolls inside. The number of the dolls may be either 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30.
These dolls  can be pulled apart to reveal other smaller dolls. The number of such dolls that nest each other (name origin : Nested Dolls) can be as few as three or as many as thirty. The dolls are typically made of linden tree (basswood), seasoned and dried for at least two years.  These dolls are hand painted with delicate designs and extremely elaborate patterns.

Brief History

The first such dolls were made in early 1890, inspired by souvenir dolls from Japan. There are several towns in Russia with a long lasting tradition of crafting nesting dolls with notable matryoshka styles. Sergiyev Posad in the Moscow region has a particularly distinguished history in these artistic endeavors. The town is even more famous for the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, the monastery founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh in 1337. The Lavra played a key role in the formative history of medieval Russia and has been the centre of Russian spirituality and uprising. All Babushka dolls also come from Sergiyev Posad region  mostly. They are the Matryoshka dolls that are also called Babushka inaccurately.

Dolls’ Classification :

These dolls are classified in several categories. Here are the brief details.

Floral Nesting Dolls
This category includes Matryoshka dolls decorated with flowers and other ornaments. See top picture.

Pastoral Babushka Dolls
Matryoshka dolls depicting country life. They are usually quite artistic, sometimes funny and have lively faces.

Unusual Babushka Dolls
These Matryoshka Dolls are different from the traditional matryoshka designs.

Woodburn Matryoshkas
Matryoshka dolls in this category are decorated using pyrography technique, also known as as pokerwork or wood burning. Pyrography is the traditional art of using a heated tip or wire to burn designs onto natural materials such as wood or leather.

Genre Nesting Dolls
Novelty souvenirs, collectibles and gifts: Russian matryoshka (babushka) nesting with hand painted images of celebrities, nationalities, professions, presidents, famous brands and landmarks.

Animals Nesting Dolls
The Nesting dolls featuring birds, cat and dog breeds, owls, horses, koalas, pandas, penguins, hedgehogs, etc.

Fairy tales Matryoshka
Matryoshka dolls featuring scenes from fairy tales.

Semenov Matrioshka
Semenov matryoshka dolls are called by the name of the town where they are made.  The first photo here in this blog is of Semenov Dolls.

Blank Nesting dolls
These unpainted blank nesting dolls. The buyer may challenge one self in the centuries old craft of Matryoshka dolls!

Cute and Funny

Christmas Nesting Dolls
The dolls with Christmas ornaments and everything Christmas related.

Easter Eggs/Matryoshka

Russian Easter eggs, Ukrainian pysanky (pysanka) and Matryoshka dolls with Easter theme.

Religious Nesting Dolls
Matryoshka dolls on religious themes such as nativity nesting dolls featuring nativity, icons and saints.

Karpova Dolls
Karpova is an accomplished matryoshka artist with a very distinct style. Her nesting dolls are painted with large eyes expressing different emotions, often sadness, perhaps depending on the artist’s feelings at the time of painting. The technique is watercolour followed by a very thin protective coating giving matryoshka matte finish.

Chimes
Chime / Rolly Polly is a traditional toy for small kids. When it is played with, it makes very nice chime sounds.

Kitchen Linens

Babushka patterns for Kitchen linens help make a decorative statement for your kitchen like :  Aprons, Dish Towels, Oven mittens (gloves), Pot holders, and Tea Cozy

Matryoshka Kilt Pins
Five wooden dolls dangle from a large lapel kilt pin. These delightful hand-painted dolls are miniatures of the famous Russian babushka nesting dolls. This is a very versatile item and can be used as a brooch, a clasp for a shawl or scarf, or hung on your bag as a charm – or for anywhere else you choose! Both adults & children alike love the whimsy of these pretty pins – the 100% original Russian folk jewellery.

Phone Charms, Keyrings
Russian nesting dolls are in fashion now so be trendy and wear this little cutie on your mobile, Ipod or handbag.

Wine Bottle Holders
These exquisite wine bottle holders are doll-style wooden containers handcrafted in Russia. Each wine bottle container is meticulously hand painted in beautiful colours.

And lastly, how about our President Obama and other democrats as Nesting dolls. Do you want to imagine which leader is hiding all other democrats?

Still want more…

Nesting Dolls’ Museum here. Buy them here. Books about Russian nesting dolls from Amazon.com