National Icons - Matryoshka doll aka Russian Dolls

Over the past few years that I have been active on postcrossing, I received quite a number of postcards from Russia. There were the usual scenic postcards of different parts of Russia and other postcards that featured iconic Russian things; like the matryoshka doll.

A little on the history of the dolls. The first set of dolls were crafted by a woodworker named Vasilii Zvyozdochkin and painted by an artist, Sergei Malyutin. They painted a peasant girl dressed in a traditional Russian attire and they named her "matryoshka" meaning "little matron". In 1900, the set was presented at an exposition in France where it was awarded a bronze medal. Subsequently, the dolls gained popularity and began to be manufacture in other parts of Russia. Soon after becoming a household name, the dolls were exported worldwide. 

The matryoshka doll, also known as nesting dolls, demonstrated the feminine side of Russian culture in the late 19th century to early 20th century. Mothers played a huge role in traditional Russian families and big families were considered to be common practice. Each member of the family had their own unique role in the household and the mother serves as the foundation of the home. It is not unusual that these dolls portrayed a mother figure. The several dolls inside is a depiction of the mother "nesting" her "children" dolls inside. 

As time passed, the physical features of the dolls evolved as well. Nowadays, a set of matryoshka dolls can represent other things like national politicians, religious deities and even celebrities. You can even customise the dolls to suit what you like. 

Hope you enjoy today's little story on Russia's iconic toy! I do hope to travel to Russia one day. 

C