Matryoshka NEW ARRIVALS

Semenov Matryoshka 7-nest

Semenov Matryoshka (Россияночка).  A traditional Semenov matryoshka that goes by the name of Rossiyanochka (Россияночка) or Mashenka (Машенька), which are interchangeable and endearing terms.  This is the 7-piece version and is 6¾" in...

Russian Lubok Matryoshka [1993]

Russian Lubok (Русский Лубок). Hand painted matryoshka in the Lubok graphic style. "Lubok" (лубо́к, лубо́чная картинка) is a popular print with simple text that explains the story of the picture. Basically a late 17th-early 18th century comic scene...

Vyatka "Coquette" 6pc [Vintage]

Kirov "Coquette" Matryoshka (Кировская матрешка "Кокетка"). In our experience, among almost all of the classic Kirov dolls we've encountered, a matryoshka with a flirtatious head tilt like this one, is most uncommon. The hand painted flowers on this set...

Kirov Matryoshka, 7nest [early 1980s]

Kirov 7pc, circa 1983. This matryoshka set was made in the 1980s, some 20 years after the formation of the production center. Any nesting dolls from the last quarter of the 20th century are somewhat scarce in about fine, unplayed with condition. Of note...

Ukrainian Nesting Doll [Vintage]

Ukrainian Nesting Doll. Colorful vintage set from Ukraine, but unfamiliar to us. Perhaps Mirgorod, but that's an educated guess. Appears to be scarce. 5 nest, 4¾" down to short of 1". 1 only, as shown. Small paint chip top of 3rd piece,...

Viatka "White Flowers" Matryoshka [Vintage]

Viatka "White Flowers" Enhanced (Вятка "Белые Цветы" Улучшенная). Why enhanced? We invite you to learn more about it below. Of the several (over 800) hundred 7 nested sets that passed through our shop, we can remember only one that had, not one, but two...

Viatka "Shawl" Matryoshka [Vintage]

Viatka "Shawl" Enhanced (Вятка "Шаль" Улучшенная). Why enhanced? We invite you to learn more about it below. Of the several (over 800) hundred 7 nested sets that passed through our shop, we can remember only one that had, not one, but two pieces, that...

Tale of the Priest and Balda [Pushkin]

"The Tale of the Priest and of his Workman Balda" ("Сказка о попе и о работнике его Балде") is a fairy tale in verse by Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837). The Priest hires Balda on the cheap to collect a fabricated debt from the sea devils. Balda causes the...

Churches of Bogorodsk [7nest, 7"]

Churches of Bogorodsk. Detailed woodburnt designs go to the last tiny doll. Artistic painting and enhancements include "potal", which is gold and silver foil decoration (the foil is called potal) that imitates gilding and silvering. The centers of each...

Silver Church Maidens [Vintage]

Silver Church Maidens. This is a larger version of the classic, then current, style of pyrography, painting and potal (gold or silver foil that imitates gilding or silvering). The churches in the center of each piece are abstract images of the monastery...

Works of Gauguin [1993] 5pcs

The Paintings of Paul Gauguin (Картины Гогена). 5 nest, signed by the painter, and dated 1993. Painted in Rostov on the Don. Each piece has a polished clear coat of lacquer. Light wear at opening of the first doll, otherwise near fine. 5⅜" to 1⅛" 1 only...

Bath Time Family Matryoshka [1990]

Bath Time (Время для купания). Family nesting dolls are very popular. Here we have a family of redheads ready to get all cleaned up. The father hoists a wooden bucket with steaming water, the mother combs her long hair, and the children bring their toys...

Viatka Nolinsk 8pc [Vintage 1970s]

Vyatka Nolinsk Matryoshka [Vintage 8pc]. This is a rarely encountered, in our experience, monochromatic doll with yellow tops (shawls) and purple bottoms (dresses) on the first five, then polka-dots and blank wood. The only piece that stands out is the...

Zagorsk Nesting Doll [Vintage 3pcs]

Zagorsk Matryoshka [1980s]. This cute matryoshka doll probably was made in the mid-1980s. The colors are still vibrant and the condition is very good, with some small scuffs/chips at the top of 2nd doll, paint loss on the flower on 1st, and usual wear at...

Zagorsk Nesting Doll (Vintage 4pc)

Zagorsk Matryoshka (Загорская Матрешка). Vintage 4-nest from early 1970s. Strong primary colors common in dolls from this period. In good condition with usual flaking and chipping that plagues Zagorks dolls. No retouching has been done. Purple backstamp...

Russian Boy [Semenov 1967]

Russian Boy (Русский Паренек). Uncommon mid-1960s Semenov boy box. Nicely crafted. On the bottom is a detailed paper label in Russian (see below). In near fine condition with very little wear. Probably originally purchased from a Beriozka shop around...

Warrior Box [Vintage Moldova]

Warrior Box. Moldavia USSR (today Moldova). Unusual hand made and painted warrior (воиничел) box with factory label on the bottom that identifies it as from 1973 and made in the Tiraspol Factory of Souvenirs ("Тираспольская фабрика сувениров"). As...

Icons Nesting Doll

Icons (Иконы). This nesting doll exemplifies changes that were occuring under the Mikhail Gorbachev regime, which emphasized glasnost' and perestroika (openess and reform). Icons held by the nuns include the angel from the Trinity, John the Baptist,...

Matryona Bogorodsk Matryoshka

Matryona from Bogorodsk. Matryona (or Matrona) is derived from the Latin, which means a married woman. It also can be defined as "honorable lady", "mother of the family", or simply "mother". In some circles, matryona can be diminuated to matryoshka. A...

Musician Lad Boxes [Vintage - Rare]

Musician Boy Boxes, pair. One plays a balalaika, the other a bayan. These are scarce in our experience, as we've only seen this pair. No labels. Either Semenov or Kirov factory production, circa 1970s. In about fine condition. One is slightly smaller...