Peasant with Cannon and Spear [Kalinin]

Russian Peasant (Bauer) with Spear and Cannon (Русский крестьянин (Бауэр) с копьем и пушкой). Tableau figure on a wooden base with depicts stern peasant alongside a cannon and gripping his large spear. Unusual and uncommon Russian arts and crafts piece with enhancements that include wood burning (pyrography), painting and lacquer. 1970s. With "Made in USSR" paper label and factory number. 10" x 6¼" x 2½". About fine condition with light wear on the back and extremities. 1 only.

The Kalinin Toy (Калининская игрушка) is similar to the Kalinin Matryoshka (Калининская Матрешка). These were popular items 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 to Tver. History prevailed.