Buying the Right Matrioshka Dolls
Souvenir Hunting in Russia for Beautiful Wooden Stacking Dolls
Want to bring some nested dolls home from Russia? Matrioshka doll sets have an interesting history, and we have tips for choosing the best.
In our overview of souvenirs you can buy in Russia, we talked of lacquer boxes, babushka scarves and McLenin's T-shirts, but by far the favorite purchase that is discussed over and over again is a set of matrioshka dolls. The spelling varies - matryoshka is a common variant, and the plural is matreshki - but the principle's always the same: a set of stacking wooden dolls, each of different sizes, which fit inside each other. You might see only one doll, but pull them apart at the middle and you'll discover six or seven or even ten inside!
The History of Matrioshka Dolls
The bad news is that matrioshka dolls are not exactly an intrinsically Russian craft with a long-tradition. In fact, they only began to be produced in the late 19th century, and are said to have been inspired by a similar souvenir from Japan. The name derives from an old Russian word for "mother", since all the dolls are nesting inside the largest.
Matrioshka dolls can be found in four main styles. Sergiev Posad, a popular Golden Ring town near Moscow, is the home to the first hand-painted dolls, with severe oval-faces and over-sized heads. Semionovo dolls often feature brightly painted aprons, and those from Polkhovsky Maidan generally depict peasants, with a more primitive "child's drawing" style. Finally, those made during the Soviet era were generally mass-produced in factories.
Buying Your Matrioshka Souvenirs
These days, matrioshka styles vary from the traditional through to sets featuring politicians, rock bands, TV characters or even your very own family. Prices vary just as widely, so decide if you're after a high-quality handcraft or a fun souvenir to remember your trip.
Russians, of course, have worked out that matrioshka dolls are the number one souvenir of choice for foreign tourists, and it's relatively easy to find them. My personal preference is to buy them at some of the outdoor handicraft markets, like those you find outside the monastery at Sergiev Posad. It can also be a pleasant experience to browse through some of the larger Russian handicraft stores, like the one at the entrance to Red Square in Moscow, if only to see the large range available. When it comes to value for money, you do need to shop around - I was surprised to find a cheaper but nice set in a tiny stall upstairs in Moscow's
Quality can vary widely, both in how they're carved and fit together (do take the whole set apart, and put it back together again, to be sure they really do fit), and in the painting. Better costs more, naturally, but make your choice and buy accordingly. More costs more too, of course - you could get up to 30 dolls nesting, or start with a basic four or five.
