The Little Round Bun, aka Kolobok (Колобок). This well-known story-driven doll unfolds with the central picture on the first doll of the grandparents and Kolobok emerging from the oven. The most important animal in the story is the fox who is painted on the second doll dressed in a green sarafan. The bunny, wolf and bear each follow in turn, and the smallest two dolls are individuals reflective of the preceding ones. Each face is enhanced with powdered pink blush.
The story of the The Little Round Bun is analogous to The Little Gingerbread Boy. In Russian, "kolo" means round and "bok" means "side". The sole purpose of Kolobok's short existence is not to be eaten. After being created in the oven by the kindly old couple, Kolobok is filled with life and rolls off of the table and straight out the door. He meets several forest animals, including the bear, a wolf, a bunny and a fox. All the while Kolobok is always singing his one simple refrain: "I got away from Grandmother, I got away from Grandfather, and I will certainly get away from you." After eluding all the animal's clutches, unfortunately for Kolobok, in the end it is the sly fox who gets the better of Kolobok by praising his singing and then pretending deafness to entice Kolobok closer and closer, and finally, a little bit too close.
By Nadezhda Malysheva (Надежда Малышева) and signed Khotkovo, Russia (Хотьково, Россия). Watercolors and acrylics. Hand made and painted in the 1990's in Russia. 7" down to 1¼".
