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Hello! My name is Matreshka (Matryoshka), and I come from Russia. They say that I was brought to Russia from Japan at the end of the 19th century by the wife of a Russian patron named Savva I. Mamontov. On the other hand, according to certain Japanese, it was a Russian monk who first brought to Japan the idea of making Matreshka dolls (Matryoshka) into an exceptional doll. But whatever the case, Russian craftsmen liked the idea, and Matreshka was born.
A professional artist named Sergei Malyutin made the first sketches of Matreskha at the beginning of the 1890's.
I often wondered about my name. I learned that at the end of the 19th century, Matrena (diminutive Matreshka, Matryoshka) was one of most popular female names in Russia. Derived from the Latin root " matrona" it means "mother", "respected lady", or "mother of a family". Placing one figure inside another was also a fitting symbol of fertility and perpetuation.
In attempts to make Matreshkas dolls (Matryoshkas), people have been known to spoil much material and finally to give up in defeat. No wonder, since until recently, knowing how to make Matreshka dolls was a secret.
The work involved in making me requires skill. First, it is important to choose the proper type of wood. Because of its softness,
linden wood is generally chosen, less often alder or birch. After the trees are cut down, usually in early spring, they are stripped of most of their bark, leaving just enough to prevent the wood from cracking while it dries. The logs are then left stacked for several years so that they can enjoy proper circulation of air as they dry.
The cutting of the wood needs to be done at the right time, when it is neither too dry nor too damp. Only an expert can determine when it is just right. Each piece of wood goes through as many as 15 separate operations. The smallest Matreshka doll in the series is made first. At times it is so small that you must strain your eyes or even use a magnifying glass to see it clearly.
A skilled craftsman, by the way, does not bother to take measurements but relies solely on experience. Afterward, he repeats the process, making a slightly larger doll into which the previous ones will fit.
The number of Matreshka (Matryoshka) dolls held one within the other varies from 2 to 60. The largest Matreshka (Matryoshka) may be as tall as its maker! When each Matreshka is finished, it is covered with a starchy glue that fills in any hollows in the surface. The final drying begins, and the Matreshka doll is polished to a smooth surface to enable the painter to
spread the paint evenly. Then the Matreshka is given its inimitable style.
People change as they grow older, and the same can be said of me. The craft of Matreshka (Matryoshka) - making gradually spread from Moscow region to other cities and towns, including Semenov. Polkhovskii Maidan, Vyatka, Tver and Nizhnii Novgorod. Each locality developed its own style and form of decoration.
An artist named Sikorskii was one of the first whose Matreshkas became popular with the public. His dolls bring the highest prices, with individual sets costing as much as 3,000 US dollars. His success stimulated other artists, and during the past nine years, Matreshka-making has been given an energetic push.
My name, Matreshka (Matryoshka) doll, has now come to apply to all dolls made to fit one into another. Different themes are featured: flowers, churches, icons, folktales, family themes, even political leaders and celebrities. The large variety now available helps keep me quite reasonable in price. I hope you are enjoying your time here and would like to see all of my cousins - Matreshkas - nesting dolls on the other pages.
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