Kalinin Maidens [USSR 5pc]

Product Description

Kalinin (Tver) Maidens (Калининские Девочки). This set from Kalinin (Tver) isn't all that common. The decoration is outlined by poker-work and is different from Viatka (aka Kirov or Nolinsk), Semenov or Polkh-Maidan dolls. The doll features are very expressive. The linden wood is sturdier and colors are bright and thickly applied. This matryoshka was made in the mid-1980s. Red/black "Made in USSR" paper label on the bottom of the first doll. 5 nest, 4" in height. 1 only, as shown.

Condition note: the first doll at the top has a bit of paint loss, which is common in these dolls. 

The Kalinin Matryoshka (Калининская Матрешка) was made in Kalinin, situated on the Upper Volga River. In actuality, Kalinin was the medieval city of Tver, but had been renamed Kalinin after one of Stalin's loyal henchmen. After 1991, many cities were restored to their pre-Soviet names, for example Sergiev Posad (Zagorsk), Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky) to name just a few. Thus, Kalinin was restored back to Tver. .