Product Description
The Legendary Bogatyr (Легендарный Богатырь). The bogatyr is an ancient hero or warrior somewhat like a Western European knight errant. Most of stories about bogatyrs revolve around the court of Vladimir I of Kiev (958–1015). The most prominent bogatyrs were the trio of Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich and Ilya Muromets, each distinguished by a character trait: Alyosha Popovich for his wits, Dobrynya Nikitich for his courage, and Ilya Muromets for his physical and spiritual power and integrity, and for his dedication to the protection of his homeland and people.
This extraordinary sculptured figure stands over 16" tall! Each bogatyr is completely hand made. To simulate chainmail, hundreds of tiny pieces of straw were painstakingly inlaid. The straw is a special variety of rye harvested with a scythe, then boiled in a potassium solution to achieve the color of gold. The cut-into-shape straw is then fastened and covered with an oil lacquer. A marvel of Russian folk art! Made in the early 1990's.