Free Shipping of Orders $99+ (US only) 

Shop by Brand

Sergiev Posad (Zagorsk) Matryoshka Dolls

  • Lavra of Sergiev Posad (Лавра в Сергиевом Посаде). The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Троице-Сергиева лавра) is the most important and historical Russian monastery and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodoxy. The monastery is in the town of Sergiev Posad, about 40 miles northeast from Moscow. Its founding in 1337 by St. Sergius of Radonezh is well documented in the contemporary lives of Sergius and his disciples. Famous iconographers and powerful tsars all gained fame and notoriety in this humble lavra. The artist has painted an impressive and positive rendering of the monastery, its gates, cupolas, and immediate surroundings. Bottom of the first doll is painted green to reflect the grassy earth.  7 nest, 6¼" down to 1¼".  Fully lacquered. Signed by the artist and dated 1998.

    Lavra of Sergiev Posad [Vintage]

    Lavra of Sergiev Posad (Лавра в Сергиевом Посаде). The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Троице-Сергиева лавра) is the most important and historical Russian monastery and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodoxy. The monastery is in the town of Sergiev...
    $95.00
    Add to Cart
  • Frog Princess (Царевна-лягушка). In this classic fairy tale, the Tsar wants his three sons to marry. To accomplish this, he creates a task to help them find brides. He tells each prince to shoot an arrow in a different direction. According to the Tsar's ruling, each prince will find his bride in the location that the arrow lands. The youngest son's arrow lands in a pond, where he finds his future bride, disguised in the form of a frog. The king assigns his three prospective daughters-in-law various tasks, such as spinning cloth and baking bread. The young prince is ashamed of his frog bride until she is magically transformed into Vasilisa the Wise, a beautiful, intelligent, friendly, and skilled enchanted princess.

Painting, woodburning, "potal" ("поталь"), which is a form of gold foil decoration that imitates gilding, lacquer. Made in Sergiev Posad  about 20-25 years ago. Bottom displays "5м" (abbreviation for "5 pieces") and the artist's cipher. Fine condition with some vestigial sticky paper label remnant on the bottom. 5" to 1⅝".

    "Frog Princess" [vintage Sergiev Posad]

    Frog Princess (Царевна-лягушка). In this classic fairy tale, the Tsar wants his three sons to marry. To accomplish this, he creates a task to help them find brides. He tells each prince to shoot an arrow in a different direction. According to the Tsar's...
    $45.00
    Add to Cart
  • Extended Russian Farmhouse Family.  A finely painted artistic doll that features three generations of a simple family that lives on a farm in a village. Farm themes have always been popular in matryoshka production as the farm represents an idyllic and genuinely practical state of affairs in Russia, yesterday and today. The rural experience is universal, and while romanticized, it also reveals that which is mostly lost. This enjoyable set, that even manages to sneak a birch limb on the first doll, is from Zagorsk. 10 nest, 8"x 1".

    Extended Russian Farmhouse Family [vintage 10-nest].

    Extended Russian Farmhouse Family.  A finely painted artistic doll that features three generations of a simple family that lives on a farm in a village. Farm themes have always been popular in matryoshka production as the farm represents an idyllic...
    $150.00
    Add to Cart
  • SALE
    Golden Ring (Золотое кольцо) Artistic Matryoshka. An elegant early nesting doll titled on the front "Golden Ring", which is a ring of towns and cities of great antiquity that lie northeast of Moscow. The artist of this matryoshka features the famous Troitsky-Sergiev Lavra, founded in the 14th century by St. Sergius of Radonezh in Sergiev Posad, Moscow.  The doll is an early one (1994) and the details and enhancements are well done, including the faces, the hair, the painting, gilding and woodburning. It has the distinction of being made in Sergiev-Posad, and signed by the artist. Of note is the classic recursive matryoshka style, where each piece opens successively to a smaller version of the preceding one.

    Golden Ring Vintage Artistic Matryoshka [1994]

    Golden Ring (Золотое кольцо) Artistic Matryoshka. An elegant early nesting doll titled on the front "Golden Ring", which is a ring of towns and cities of great antiquity that lie northeast of Moscow. The artist of this matryoshka features the famous...
    Was: $175.00
    Now: $125.00
    Add to Cart
  • Zagorsk (Загорск) Maidens were made in the 1970s through the late 1980s in "Zagorsk Toy Factory No. 1". This attractive 9 nest is in well-reserved, about fine condition and isn't suffering from the all-too-common flaking and chipping that plagues this style of doll. The state of preservation on this set is remarkable. Colors are bright, the lacquer is clear and all pieces fit together well. Handmade and painted. 7" down to ¾" down.

    Zagorsk Vintage Matryoshka (9pcs)

    Zagorsk (Загорск) Maidens were made in the 1970s through the late 1980s in "Zagorsk Toy Factory No. 1". This attractive 9 nest is in well-preserved, about fine, condition and isn't suffering from the all-too-common flaking and chipping that plagues this...
    $65.00
    Add to Cart
  • Silver Church Maidens.  This is a larger version of the classic style of pyrography, painting and potal (gold or silver foil that imitates gilding or silvering). Pyrographically written on the bottom in Russian: "Sergiev Posad, 2001", the artist's name, 7 nest, and  "Made in Russia" (stamped in red).

    Silver Church Maidens, 7-nest [Vintage]

    Silver Church Maidens.  The churches in the center of each piece are abstract images of the monastery at Sergiev Posad. The faces are nicely painted with large black eyelashes and ruby lips. An attractive doll from the golden age of Russian-made...
    $48.00
    Add to Cart
  • Snow Maiden Miniature. A nicely painted small set of four that includes the Snow Maiden wrapped in a fur coat, her friend carrying a fir branch,  cute snowman and a tiny decorated tree. Sergiev Posad, circa 1991. USSR paper label on the first doll.

    Snow Maiden Mini Matryoshka

    Snow Maiden Miniature. A nicely painted small set of four that includes the Snow Maiden wrapped in a fur coat, her friend carrying a fir branch,  cute snowman and a tiny decorated tree. Sergiev Posad, circa 1991. USSR paper label on the first doll...
    $18.00
    Add to Cart
  • Sergiev Posad Miniature "Churches" Matryoshka. A late 90s set that still retains some of the exquisite attention to detail from the time period. A lot going on in a small space. Wood burnt outlines, potal enhancements (gold foil that imitates gilding) and paints. By an anonymous artist. 3½" down to 1".

    Sergiev Posad "Churches" Mini [Vintage}

    Sergiev Posad Miniature "Churches" Matryoshka. A late 90s set that still retains some of the exquisite attention to detail from the time period. A lot going on in a small space. Wood burnt outlines, potal enhancements (gold foil that imitates gilding)...
    $22.00
    Add to Cart
  • Zagorsk 7-nest Matryoshka [1950s-60s]. One prominent feature of Russian nesting dolls in particular, and Russian applied art, in general, is that folk art, such as this doll, made 65 years ago appears to the observer as if it had been made in even earlier times. This is due to the conditions and skills of production which changed little from the late 19th century up the 1960s and 1970s. Dolls from before the start of the "tourist" era in the USSR - roughly late 1950s - early 1960s - are uncommon. At this time, tourism was on the rise, and with it, the business of making folk art began increasing.

    Zagorsk 7-nest Matryoshka [1950s-60s]

    Zagorsk 7-nest Matryoshka [1950s-60s]. One prominent feature of Russian nesting dolls in particular, and Russian applied art, in general, is that folk art, such as this doll, made 65 years ago appears to the observer as if it had been made in even...
    $40.00
    Add to Cart