Product Description
Golden Samovar Matryoshka (Матрешка Золотой самовар). An early, fully handmade and painted 9-nest matryoshka dated 1990 and signed by the artist V. Lagutina (В. Лагутина). Her signature is in itself unusual, since USSR hadn't collapsed yet (it did at the end of 1991). Many of the vintage Russian matryoshkas from 1987 to 1999 found artists declining to sign their work due to old fears of engaging in "capitalist" endeavors (making a profit) and having a trail linked back to them. This was more pronounced in the bigger cities, where fear of reprisals was hard to shed completely.
The number of pieces in the set is also unusual and uncommon. The finished pieces are covered with a soft, smooth lacquer. The floral embellishments are disciplined and the samovar is filled in with "potal" ("поталь"), which is a form of gold foil decoration that imitates gilding. Atop the samovar, and eventually taking over, is a blue and white teapot painted in the Gzhel style. Even the dark handles are painted in. A real attractive set! 6½" down to ¾". In about fine condition. 1 only.
![Zagorsk 7-nest Matryoshka [1950s-60s]. One prominent feature of Russian nesting dolls in particular, and Russian applied art, in general, is that folk art, such as this doll, made 65 years ago appears to the observer as if it had been made in even earlier times. This is due to the conditions and skills of production which changed little from the late 19th century up the 1960s and 1970s. Dolls from before the start of the "tourist" era in the USSR - roughly late 1950s - early 1960s - are uncommon. At this time, tourism was on the rise, and with it, the business of making folk art began increasing.](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-kgl10g/images/stencil/500x659/products/5030/44007/Vtg_Zag7_A__15611.1778356804.jpg?c=2 "Zagorsk 7-nest Matryoshka [1950s-60s]. One prominent feature of Russian nesting dolls in particular, and Russian applied art, in general, is that folk art, such as this doll, made 65 years ago appears to the observer as if it had been made in even earlier times. This is due to the conditions and skills of production which changed little from the late 19th century up the 1960s and 1970s. Dolls from before the start of the \"tourist\" era in the USSR - roughly late 1950s - early 1960s - are uncommon. At this time, tourism was on the rise, and with it, the business of making folk art began increasing.")
