Russian Dolls
Russian dolls are perhaps the most famous of traditional Russian crafts. Russian dolls are known in Russia as "matryoshka", or "matrioshka" dolls, in Europe as Babushka dolls or nesting dolls and in America as Russian stacking dolls.Interestingly, Russian dolls do not actually originate from Russia. The first known example of a russian doll dates from 1890, and apparently was inspired by similar nesting dolls from Japan. However, the concept of nested objects was already familiar in Russia, having been applied to carved wooden apples and Easter eggs; the first Fabergé egg, in 1885, had a nesting of an egg, yolk, hen, and crown.
Russian dolls have been manufactured in Russia for hundreds of years, and our artists use the traditional methods. When making a nesting Russian doll, the wood is first cut carefully into shape and then sanded to smooth the edges. Then, the artist paints the design directly onto the russian doll in layers, and allows it to dry. Finally, the doll is lacquered several times both to protect, and to enhance the colours.
The base wood of our Russian dolls is always lime, which is the best wood to use for traditional nesting dolls. It is specifically used for this purpose, because when it is painted it won't warp or crack, and will retain its shape indefinitely. Similarly, both the paint and the varnish our artists use are specificaly formulated to avoid cracks, reactions and deterioration, and the same techniques have been used for traditional russian dolls for centuries.
Decorative Plates
Our decorative plates are selected by a similar range of criteria to our nesting dolls. Firstly, every single one of our plates is entirely unique. Occasionally an artist will use a similar theme or subject, but will never repeat the same design. Secondly, we concentrate on the quality of workmanship, and look for the most intricate or interesting designs available.The designs used by our artists are generally very traditional, and draw on a whole range of cultural influences from centuries ago. In particular, our floral plates are great examples of traditional Ukrainian and Russian folk art. Our artists also love to design scenes from typical village life, and sometimes depict some very quaint customs. With every individual plate we will include a card to explain the subject matter.
The plates are made in a very similar way to the nesting dolls. The wood is cut to a specific design, connected, then carefully sanded to a smooth edge. The plates are then painted and varnished over a number of days. Finally, they are polished, felt trimmings are added to the back, and the plate is ready to display.
Jewellery Boxes
Our jewellery boxes are perhaps the most collectable of all our products. The methods of manufacturing vary depending on both the individual artist's preference, and the area where they are made. Two base materials are commonly used - lime tree wood, and papier maché.Similar to our nesting dolls, the designs used for the boxes vary from region to region. In our most exquisite boxes, mother of pearl is inlaid into the lid to create a stunning artistic effect. The subject matter for our boxes varies from floral designs, to traditional scenes, to images of historical and cultural significance.
