This lovely set of wooden Matryoshka Dolls has been handcrafted and handpainted by Russian artisans, with each individual doll being a unique and exquisitely detailed work of art. This traditional theme depicts five (5) brightly coloured Farm Maids with a glossy lacquered finish. The largest doll measures 9.5cm in height with a 5.5cm diameter base, while the smallest is only 2cm tall.

*** Please Note: As these dolls are individually hand-crafted from start to finish, there may be very slight variations in the finished pattern on the particular set you will receive. This adds to both their character and their collectability, and ensures that your dolls are truly unique! ***

A Brief History of Matryoshka Dolls . . . Matryoshka (or Babushka) dolls are sets of wooden Russian nesting dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The first nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo. Traditionally, the outer layer is a woman dressed in a Russian peasant-style dress with the smallest, innermost doll beinga baby lathed from a single piece of wood. Modern artists create sets of dolls along many different themes, including animals, fairy tales and celebrities. Much of the artistry lies in the painting of each doll, which can be very elaborate. The word "matryoshka" translates to "little matron" and is a diminutive form of the Russian girl’s name "Matryona".