Matreshka as a representation of artwork

These stacking dolls are more expencive but they represent best worksmanship and worth every peny.

'Semenov' 30 pc Matryoshka (red) - $ 601.32 Size: approx. 16' Metric: 40 cm Consists of: 30 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist in the city of Semenov, Russia. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: 'SEMENOVSKAYA' or SEMENOV CITY MATRYOSHKA 'Semenovskaya' is a Russian adjective that stands for 'that of Semenov', or - to be more precise - 'that of Semenov city', a small town in Nizhny Novgorod province that greatly contributed to matryoshka history. Olga Litvina in her article 'About Matryoshka' writes: The end of the XIXth century brought with it a real 'matryoshka boom'. To satisfy the unexpected demand, new manufacturers emerged on the market. In less than a few years, almost the whole city of Sergiev Posad was painting matryoshkas. This city was the place that had both multitudes of experienced wood turners and the excellent raw material: birch and lime trees. The painting was done by family cartels, where even children and old people took part in the process. As a rule, Russian matryoshkas depicted young ladies in Russian sarafans [peasant woman's dress] and shawls, holding baskets, flowers, bread-and-salt [traditional Russian sign of hospitality], etc. Matryoshkas gained considerable popularity abroad and in the beginning of the XXth century Russia started exporting the dolls in large quantities. Matryoshka business turned out to be so profitable that a number of other matryoshka-making centers have appeared soon after the mass export has begun. The largest were based in the city of Semenov of Nizhnii Novgorod province and in the village of Polkhov-Maidan. Moreover, this was the time when first western counterfeits appeared on the market. A number of German companies, for example, were turning and painting their own nesting dolls, selling them as Russian matryoshkas. Even though nowadays one can find matryoshkas of various unusual shapes - ball- or cone-shaped, in forms of boxes and bottle-holders - figurines imitating woman's body still remain the most popular ones. As a rule Sergiev Posad dolls are, however, wider and smaller than the Semenov-turned ones. This nesting doll is an authentic example of a Semenov style of matryoshka painting. Handmade in the city of Semenov it features the characteristic bright red flowers and traditional yellow scarves.

'Girls' (set 2) - $ 530.66 Size: approx. 6.4' Metric: 16 cm Consists of: 5 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 7-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: The 'Girls' nesting doll before you is an exquisite example of Russian beauty and purity reflected in a unique matryoshka doll by Tatyana Telpis, an artist that works exclusively for Russian Legacy. Each nesting doll set is made to order and the whole set takes the artist 5 to 8 business days to paint and 2-3 more days to coat it with 5-7 layers of lacquer. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN SERGIEV POSAD MATRYOSHKA In provincial Russia before the revolution the name Matryona or Matriyosha was a very popular female name. It was derived from the Latin root 'mater' which means 'mother'. This name was associated with the image of a mother of a big family who was very healthy and had a portly figure. Subsequently, it became a symbolic name and was used specially to describe brightly painted wooden dolls made in such a way that they could be taken apart to reveal smaller dolls fitting inside on another. The first nesting dolls of Sergiev Posad portrayed this special beauty: young girls dressed in Russian sarafans carrying baskets, scythes, bunches of flowers or dressed in winter short fur coats and scarves. This particular matryoshka is an exclusive example of a Sergiev Posad style married with a highly professional portrait painting.

'Gold & Blue Zhostovo Style' - $ 450.94 Size: approx. 8.7' Metric: 22 cm Consists of: 30 pieces Finish: matte Availability: ships within 12-17 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. The whole set has a gentle matte finish. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: ZHOSTOVO PAINTING Zhostovo painting is one of the traditional types of Russian decorative work developed in the village of Zhostovo of Mytishi region, Moscow oblast. It appeared at the beginning of 19th century under the influence of Ural flower painting on metal. Zhostovo painting is essentially drawing on metal trays preliminarily covered by several layers of thick putty and oil varnish (normally, of black color). The painting itself is accomplished in several consequent stages; soft brush and oil-colors (richly mixed with linseed-oil) create an impression of an energetic and elastic touch. Stylistic development of Zhostovo painting is closely related to Russian porcelain and enamel painting of Moscow region's plants and factories, as well as with the flower motifs of printed Ivanovo cottons and P.V. Lukutin miniature. The main motif of Zhostovo painting - a flower bouquet - is simple and laconic in its composition: larger garden flowers are combined with smaller wild flowers; the actual shape of a flower is conveyed through a three-dimensional painting technique; and all this is being brought together by a decorative richness of multi-color solution closely related to the traditional Russian brush-painting on chests and distaffs. Tray edges are finished with a golden ornamental pattern (also known as 'uborka'). The completed painting is covered by three layers of light varnish, being further polished to mirror luster.

Matreshka as a gift

Somewhat lower priced option that still maintains an excellent work of artists and has a very good value

Family Doll (20 pcs / exclusive) - $ 383.49 More Photos of this Set If you are interested in getting your own personalized nesting doll set made, kindly review our prices and conditions below and contact us via e-mail or at 1-877-787-7467 (toll free within the US). CUSTOM NESTING DOLLS (pricing) Number of Dolls in a Set Height (tallest doll) QUALITY Souvenir (good portraits + simple backgrounds) Exclusive (detailed portraits + complex backgrounds) 3 10 cm (4') $31.49 $41.99 4 16.25 cm (6.5') $44.99 $62.99 5 $52.49 $73.49 6 20 cm (8') $76.99 $96.24 7 $83.99 $104.99 8 25 cm (10') $108.27 $137.80 9 $114.49 $142.99 10 $115.49 $146.99 11 30 cm (12') $149.62 $209.47 12 $151.49 $212.49 13 $153.49 $215.49 14 $155.49 $218.49 15 $157.49 $220.49 16 $243.99 $278.99 17 $245.99 $282.99 18 $247.99 $286.99 19 $249.99 $290.99 20 $251.99 $294.99 Samples (click to see): souvenir sample 1, souvenir sample 2; exclusive sample 1, exclusive sample 2 Number of Portraits included in the above-quoted prices (max) 3 pc set 1 portrait per piece 4 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3, 4 – 1 per piece 5 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3, 4, 5 – 1 per piece 6 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4, 5, 6 – 1 per piece 7 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4 , 5, 6, 7 – 1 per piece 8 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6, 7, 8 – 1 per piece 9 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6, 7, 8, 9 – 1 per piece 10 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6, 7, 8, 9 – 1 per piece 10th piece – name written or flower painted 11 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6th piece – 2 portraits 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 – 1 per piece 12 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6th piece – 2 portraits 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 – 1 per piece 15 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6th piece – 2 portraits 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 – 1 per piece 13, 14, 15 – names written, animals/pets painted, flowers, etc. 20 pc set 1st piece – 2 portraits 2nd piece – 2 portraits 3rd piece – 2 portraits 4th piece – 2 portraits 5th piece – 2 portraits 6th piece – 2 portraits 7th piece – 2 portraits 8th piece – 2 portraits 9th piece – 2 portraits 10th piece – 2 portraits 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 – 1 per piece 19, 20 – names written, animals/pets painted, flowers, etc. Requirements Scans of photos (not exceeding 300 kBytes each), labeled 01, 02, 03, etc (where each number corresponds to the piece the person is to be painted on) to be e-mailed to info@russianlegacy.com together with detailed painting instructions (be as detailed as possible please).

'Semenov' 20 pc Matryoshka - $ 331.51 Size: approx. 12.8'' Metric: 32 cm Consists of: 20 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist in the city of Semenov, Russia. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: ''SEMENOVSKAYA'' or SEMENOV CITY MATRYOSHKA ''Semenovskaya'' is a Russian adjective that stands for ''that of Semenov'', or - to be more precise - ''that of Semenov city'', a small town in Nizhny Novgorod province that greatly contributed to matryoshka history. Olga Litvina in her article ''About Matryoshka'' writes: The end of the XIXth century brought with it a real ''matryoshka boom''. To satisfy the unexpected demand, new manufacturers emerged on the market. In less than a few years, almost the whole city of Sergiev Posad was painting matryoshkas. This city was the place that had both multitudes of experienced wood turners and the excellent raw material: birch and lime trees. The painting was done by family cartels, where even children and old people took part in the process. As a rule, Russian matryoshkas depicted young ladies in Russian sarafans [peasant woman's dress] and shawls, holding baskets, flowers, bread-and-salt [traditional Russian sign of hospitality], etc. Matryoshkas gained considerable popularity abroad and in the beginning of the XXth century Russia started exporting the dolls in large quantities. Matryoshka business turned out to be so profitable that a number of other matryoshka-making centers have appeared soon after the mass export has begun. The largest were based in the city of Semenov of Nizhnii Novgorod province and in the village of Polkhov-Maidan. Moreover, this was the time when first western counterfeits appeared on the market. A number of German companies, for example, were turning and painting their own nesting dolls, selling them as Russian matryoshkas. Even though nowadays one can find matryoshkas of various unusual shapes - ball- or cone-shaped, in forms of boxes and bottle-holders - figurines imitating woman's body still remain the most popular ones. As a rule Sergiev Posad dolls are, however, wider and smaller than the Semenov-turned ones. This nesting doll is an authentic example of a Semenov style of matryoshka painting. Handmade in the city of Semenov it features the characteristic bright red flowers and traditional yellow scarves.

'Winter Stories' - $ 300.62 Size: approx. 9.6'' Metric: 24 cm Consists of: 15 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 10-15 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 5-7 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the largest one is signed by artist. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN CLIMATE & VISITING RUSSIA Most of Russia has a continental climate — the winters are bone chilling and the summers can be boiling. The swings are most extreme in southern and central Siberia, but even in Moscow temperatures can range from -30 to 30 Celsius (-20 to 100 Fahrenheit). The Black Sea coast and its resort communities tend to have the least swing. Late spring, early summer and the fall are good times to visit. During the hot summer months of July and August cities shut down as locals head to the countryside to live off the land at their dachas. In the beginning of September the ballets and the operas start back up and the cities come to life again. (The performing arts season runs from about September to May, although there are occasional shows in the summer, especially during St. Petersburg's White Nights Festival in June.) The first real cold hits Moscow and St. Petersburg sometime in November and there's usually snow on the ground from December through April. If you're prepared for the cold, Russia is often at its most beautiful under a blanket of snow. Winter is also the peak of the theater season and generally has fewer tourists. Steer clear of the mud and slush that covers the country during the spring thaw (April to May) and late fall. © Copyright ''The MoscowTimes''

Matreshka as an every day gift

These are a great affordable gifts to give. It will not empty your pocket and still allows you to own or give a great russian souvenir

'Summer Bouquet' - $ 70.63 Size: approx. 4.8' Metric: 12 cm Consists of: 10 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SUMMER BOUQUET Want to send a cheerful message? The bright and playful flowers on the bellies of these 'Summer Bouquet' nesting dolls are sure to bring a smile to your recipient's face. This rich, loveliest flower design will definitely remind the possessor of this nesting doll of the gorgeous Russian summer: so short in many parts of Russia, and because of this - all the more unforgettable...

'Luxurious Russian Lady' (set 1) - $ 70.30 Size: approx. 6.4' Metric: 16 cm Consists of: 5 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer. The tallest doll is signed by the artist. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN BEAUTY What is a typical old Russian conception of woman's beauty? The ideal of a beautiful woman was considered to be a tall, strong and stately woman with red cheeks, blue eyes and blonde hair. Such women were well-represented by the renowned Russian painter, Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev. Such woman's beauty was also taken as a starting point for original matryoshka making. In provincial Russia before the revolution the name Matryona or Matriyosha was a very popular female name. It was derived from the Latin root 'mater' which means 'mother'. This name was associated with the image of a mother of a big family who was very healthy and had a portly figure. Subsequently, it became a symbolic name and was used specially to describe brightly painted wooden dolls made in such a way that they could be taken apart to reveal smaller dolls fitting inside on another. The first nesting dolls of Sergiev Posad portrayed this special beauty: young girls dressed in Russian sarafans carrying baskets, scythes, bunches of flowers or dressed in winter short fur coats and scarves. The nesting doll before you is a great example of Russian beauty reflected in a matryoshka doll.

'Christmas' (set 1) - $ 69.49 Size: approx. 4.8' Metric: 12 cm Consists of: 5 pieces Finish: matte Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll has a gentle matte finish. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS Christmas is celebrated in Russia according to Russian Orthodox Church calendar - on 7 January. During this time people send warm greetings to each other, wishing good health, happiness and great successes. Unlike it is the case in Western countries, Russia does not celebrate Christmas as widely as they do the New Year's Day. In Russia, New Year's Day is a national holiday. Children do not go to school because they have winter holidays at that time. People do not work on that day. Many people celebrate New Year's Eve at home; they organize a party for members of the family or for their friends. A Christmas tree stands in every house at Christmas and sometimes Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden visit people's homes. Do you know that… …the first Christmas tree went on public display in 1852 at the Ekaterinhoff Concert Hall in St. Petersburg. …the Russian are convinced that Grandfather Frost lives in a well-built wooden cottage (Russia izba) in the woods. …it is also thought that he travels in a sleigh troika together with the Snow Maiden. …the Snow Maiden is a beautiful girl with a long blond braid and she is dressed in a sparkling snow-patterned sarafan trimmed with polar fox. Her head is crowned by a stellar snow flake. …Father Frost is dressed in a warm sheepskin coat, felt boots and has big gloves on his hands. …people decorate trees in any way they wish. …New Year is celebrated with the family. …people like the costumed festivities. Children in different costumes dance around the Christmas tree, recite poetry, sing for gifts. …children like to help with the holiday preparations; they make multi-colored toys from paper, cover nuts in gold wrappers

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