Semenov matryoshka - hearing the name of this work of art, everyone remembers the homeland of the Khokhloma painting, craftsmen-bushes, craftsmen of woodcarving. At first, the nesting doll was not the first thing the masters did, but it took root forever in the crafts of the city of Semenov, Nizhny Novgorod Region. The toy is distinguished by its beauty and unique color.
Semenov matryoshka is one of the unique and most recognizable symbols of Russia. This souvenir appeared at the end of the 19th century, when a lot of things changed radically in the history of the country, changing the culture of the Russian people. At this time, the era of the "Slavic style" flourishes. Newer fine arts are becoming more and more interesting, and at the same time, ancient crafts are reviving.
What is a nesting doll?
If you try to define this toy, then it is something like this: a nesting doll is a Russian wooden doll, inside of which are nested similar to it, the same matryoshka dolls differing in size and mural.
The first such toy made of wood was presented to the people in the form of eight alternations of girls - boys, who in their hands held black roosters and small chickens, and the last, the smallest, was made in the form of a swaddled baby. All eight pupae were painted with bright color paints using folk motifs. Cut this first matryoshka master toy-maker V.P. Zvezdochkin, and painted by the artist S.V. Malyutin.
History of creation
Creating works of art in the "folk style", famous artists, cabinetmakers, and often hired artisans took toys from other nations as a model. There is a fashion for everything Japanese, because the oriental art samples at that time were of the greatest interest. It was then that the ancestress of the Russian matryoshka was brought to our land.
A figurine of a Buddhist sage, Fukurumu, was brought from the Japanese city of Honshu, inside of which were made several of the same, only smaller ones. The most interesting thing is that this first work of art was carved by a Russian monk who miraculously fell on the islands of Japan.
According to historians, the Semenov matryoshka, whose history begins in the 19th century, was created in the image of Fukurum, it was his figure that became the model for the Russian toy.
Symbolism
Semenov matryoshka is a symbol of motherhood, a strong and healthy woman. The doll, which carries the whole family, is also a symbol of fertility.
The woman is the parent, the keeper of the outbreak. Mother had to work hard, look after the children, take care of their food, for this they needed strong hands and health, which is why the Semenov matryoshka looks so well-fed and blooming.
Nested dolls symbolize a strong family, mutual assistance and spiritual intimacy.
Where did the name "nesting doll" come from?
The name of the Russian toy can be explained by analyzing all the facts listed below. Matryoshka, Matryona, Matresha - the root of the word is of Latin origin. Mater from Latin literally translates as "mother", it is interesting that the word has no other meanings.
Matryoshka is a derivative of the names Masha, Manya, Maria. This is a widely used name among the Slavs at all times.
Matryoshka is the name of the Buddhist goddess Matri.
Forever in history
At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the Russian nesting doll won universal recognition, after which its manufacture went uphill, as demand grew several times. So in Semenov - the city of wooden products - began to make new souvenirs. The Semenov matryoshka, the history of which was just beginning, became the most popular, as local craftsmen easily adopted the experience of making wooden toys, improved the technology, and used bright colors for painting.
At first, the masters turned, and then painted dolls at home, then in the workshops, later they began to work in factories, fulfilling large orders.
Semenov was called the "capital of spoon-breeders" of Russia, and nesting dolls were not in first place in the production of wooden products. They were made from waste from made spoons. Over time, taking over the experience of making Russian nesting dolls from the Moscow Region masters, local craftsmen introduced their characteristic features into the drawing of the Semenov nesting doll. The image of a bright toy becomes recognizable, gaining popularity not only in Russia but also abroad.
Toy birth
The first Semenov matryoshka was born, the creation story of which is described in an article in the Semenovsky district in the village of Old Believers - Merinovo, Nizhny Novgorod Region. Many residents of Merinovo earned then by selling wooden utensils, detachable caskets of various shapes, they made outlandish turning toys for trading and then dolls.
Already in 1929, dolls were made in strict Semenov style - with a special painting, with a certain shape, in the Trans-Volga style of wooden art. The first toy masters to create these dolls were the Vaginas, the oldest Merin craftsmen. Their first dolls were made on the model of the same toys from Nizhny Novgorod - bearded old men and mustached men.
Another Merin master, the toy maker Mayorov, brought home the same doll from Nizhny Novgorod, only it was a dummy, both inside and outside. The eldest daughter of the master painted the doll in her own way, dressing her in a Russian sundress with bright red flowers on an apron, "putting" a bright kokoshnik on her head. So there were painted in the Merino style nesting dolls, but along with the Merin painting, a special form of this toy appeared. So the phenomenon of Semenov matryoshka was born.
Together with them, a large number of other wooden amusements were grinded in Semenov. Their artists painted everything in the same style of Khokhloma painting. The drawings on the surface of wooden products were initially unpretentious, but over time, the ornament was saturated with bright colors, more complex elements, and more plant patterns were added. Semenovskaya wooden nesting doll has become very picturesque and colorful.
How to make nesting dolls
Matryoshka is a hollow doll inside. This alone makes us think about the great skill of the craftsmen who make it. Matryoshka business is very difficult, it requires great skill and patience. Not every wood species is suitable for manufacture, so the master takes the choice of wood very seriously. Often used species such as birch, linden, aspen, sometimes it is an alder. The tree is cut down in late winter or early spring. The trunk is chosen even, without knots, which is then cut into several logs, after which the bark is removed, and so that the tree does not crack when it dries, the edges are smeared with clay. After storing the wood in a well-ventilated room, it is dried for a long time, but not dried out. "The tree rings - this is what you need!" - says the master, and even checks it for smell. With precise and skillful movements, he grinds the desired shape of the product, he makes the smallest one with the very first matryoshka. The finished turned figure is ground, primed and polished. Only after that they begin to paint the surface using gouache, watercolor, acrylic or oil paints.
Marvelous beauty painting
The painting of the Semenov nesting dolls is done in the famous Semenov Khokhloma style, using the picturesque elements and motifs of Ancient Russia. Exterior, decorative elements play an important role in the manufacture of souvenirs.
The first dolls were made for peasant kids, so they painted with simple patterns. With the help of a sharpened goose feather, the artists applied the contours of the face and clothes, then all the elements were painted with bright colors of scarlet, raspberry, blue, green and lilac in aniline colors. The basis of the Semenov matryoshka painting is large bright flowers, crowned with rowan berries, circles, bows, small flowers. A wax layer was applied over the painted nesting dolls, later varnish was used.
This applies to traditional Semenov matryoshka dolls, while souvenir dolls in the fashionable “Russian style” began to appear, the silhouettes of which are filled with historical faces (“Taras Bulba”, “Napoleon”, “Kutuzov”). Often the face of the matryoshka became famous personalities, families of kings (“Romanov Family”), boyars, writers (“Gogol”, “Pushkin”, “Krylov”) and the heroes of their stories and tales (“Turnip”, “Kolobok”).
Folklore heritage of the country
For many Semenovites, matryoshka art has become a hereditary affair. Semenov workshops, toy circles and artels merged into one factory. In 1954, the united Toyel artel appeared, which in 1960 was already reorganized into a factory. From this moment, the production of multi-seat nesting dolls has been going on, dolls are made from 18, 25 nesting dolls. Multi-seat dolls were made for the most famous events and great dates.
