Peasant with Shield and Spear [Kalinin]

Product Description

Russian Peasant (Bauer) with Spear and Shield (Русский крестьянин (Бауэр) с с копьем и щитом). Wooden figure depicts a stern peasant gripping his tall spear and shield. He wears an elaborate helmet and a shirt with red embroidery. Unusual 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. 9⅝" in height. Fine condition. 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.