Russian dolls

April 2013

 

One of the things Russia is famous for is dolls, sets of hollow figures that fit inside each other.  The most common ones are simple drawn figures of young girls, but there are also set of special characters; such as politicians, there is one included - Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Xi Jin-ping, and David Cameron - There were also sets of characters from Winnie the pool, NBA basketball stars, and so on. 

 

A set of Russian doll with floral patterns and holes,
Moscow, 2013

The first time I saw them displayed in a shop, they were line up on the tables, on the shelves, even and on the floor.  I almost gave a whoop of excitement.  I liked the ones most which were made of wood and cost around ten thousand HK dollars.  I vaguely remember they were five dolls in a set.  They had sweet smiling faces and their bodies were decorated with floral patterns and holes.  They were gorgeous, but I did not think they were worth the money.  I think Chinese ivory and jade ornaments are better value. 

 

I saw various Russian dolls.  What impressed me most was one of the HK tourists.  He was drawing a picture onto a doll.  It was an old man who carrying a baby in a sling on his back.  It took him about 30-minutes when he finished I told him the hands were wrong.  So he corrected them and then it looked cute and real. 



The front of a Russian doll
- an old man & his child, Moscow, 2013
Special thanks for giving me to take pictures of this doll.

The back of a Russian doll,
- an old man & his child, Moscow, 2013
Special thanks again.

 



 I had a chance to learn how to paint a doll too.  The figure was already sketched onto the doll, so I only had to paint in colours and patterns.  It was easy, but not very pretty.  If I ever have time, I will repaint its and dress it in the latest fashion, you see I like to doll up my Russian doll. 

The workshop of painting dolls, Moscow, 2013.

Samples of dolls, and painting materials, Moscow, 2013