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Cities / Going Russian / Shopping / Matryoshka

Matryoshka

It is really strange to say that the matryoshka, Russia’s most famous nesting doll and a true Russian souvenir, has a non-Russian origin. Its history dates back to the late 19th century, when the wife of Savva Mamontoff, the famous Russian manufacturer and patron, bought in Japan and brought to Moscow a wooden figure of the wise man Fukuruma.

Actually, the figure consisted of several Fukuruma’s figures, which were put one in another. The unusual Japanese item could not but impel Russian craftsmen to make something alike. The first Russian matryoshka was created in Moscow by the wood turner Vasily Zvezdochkin who worked for the Mamontoff’s toy workshop. Like its Japanese prototype, it consisted of several put – one – in - another dolls representing four girls and four boys.

The largest doll was painted by the artist Malutin as a young town girl dressed in the sarafan (a Russian sort of a sundress). The doll was given the name of Matryona, a very popular Russian female name at that time, which eventually transformed into a more affectionate Matryoshka.

Very soon the matryoshka became not only a popular toy but an important Russia’s export item too. After closing Mamontoff’s workshop at the beginning of the 20th century, the manufacturing of the matryoshkas was opened in Sergiyev Posad, the city developed around the Trinity–St. Sergius monastery, 70 km north of Moscow. In 1913, the turner Bulychoff made a 48-piece doll, which was the largest matryoshka whenever created.

Nowadays, the name ‘matryoshka’ is used only in respect to the painted wooden toys that have several insert parts.

Last update: 01.01.1970