Today, the nesting dolls (also known as Babushka dolls or “matryoshka” dolls) available on the market are of very different qualities. Initially, it can be difficult to tell the difference between quality dolls and fake ones made elsewhere. In fact, this problem is not unique to Russian gifts or nesting dolls, and due to the availability of fake dolls on the market, many people are wary of buying anything when they are not sure of its origin or authenticity. Many people find it difficult to tell the difference between a real Russian doll and a fake one; however, with a little practice and knowledge of what to look for, this task becomes quite easy. Real handmade dolls can be differentiated by their place of production (city or town), the style of painting, and the artists who paint the intricate designs. To make it easier for you to identify real nesting dolls and even identify the style and city they were painted in, I’ve provided a short and simple guide to help you find these top quality nesting dolls.
where real nesting dolls are sold
In Russian cities like Moscow or Saint Petersburg, almost all nesting dolls sold in souvenir shops are of exceptional quality; however they also have exceptional prices. They are made from the best quality wood and raw materials (eg flawless basswood, higher quality paints and gold trim). The larger seven-, ten-, and fifteen-piece nesting dolls are usually painted by trained professional master craftsmen. In contrast, the dolls sold by street vendors can be of high quality and a great value, individual buyers will need to have a keen eye to identify small flaws and other problems that are common. Street vendors selling these items usually purchase slightly defective nesting dolls in bulk from souvenir shops or directly from the artists themselves. If you’re looking for a great deal, street vendors are the place to look, but take your time, look at all the nesting doll pieces, and ask for higher quality items – vendors will be happy to help savvy shoppers.
Differences in finish and polish
The highest quality babushkas are made using flawless “blank” or unpainted nesting dolls. Some small defects in wood are easily fixed by polishing or coating small nicks and teeth with starch glue to create a smooth surface. This is normal in Russia; however, this type of woodwork is never seen on imitation nesting dolls made outside of Russia. Smooth surface is very important – good Russian craftsmen demand this in order to be able to apply paints evenly and include precision detailed painting. Russian nesting dolls that are very inexpensive will still have some flaws: it is simply not economically feasible for artisans to try to achieve perfection in a five-piece nesting doll and then sell it for 300 rubles on the street ($6.00 USD). ). If you come across a large, expensive nesting doll with teeth and flaws, it’s probably very old or not a real matryoshka doll.
type of wood
The wood used to make the Russian nesting dolls is taken from the linden trees that grow in western Russia and throughout Siberia. Lindens are famous the world over for the soft yet durable wood they produce, which is nearly perfect for woodworking and carving. Interestingly enough, many different Russian lumberjacks specialize in crafting and cutting blank (unpainted) dolls, but usually never get into painting these dolls. Lumberjacks simply cut, sand and prepare blanks for craftsmen from all over Russia. They select the linden trees based on quality, lack of defects and age. Fake dolls made outside of Russia are often plastic imitations or use cheap pine wood or other low-quality raw materials. The differences in the type of wood are easy to see once you handle the dolls.
opening and closing
Quality Russian dolls usually open and close with some effort, pushing and turning the two pieces of the largest doll. Larger dollies may squeak a bit when opening; this is normal with basswood and one of the ways to identify dolls. Most of the fake dolls will easily crack or break due to children opening and closing the dolls and just playing with them. Dolls made from Basswood tend to be stronger and more durable. Very high quality Russian nesting dolls made from basswood can last for hundreds of years and retain the high quality paint and clear lacquer finish.
Painting style and designs
Making quality dolls involves painstaking work and hours of hard work. A single nesting doll of ten or fifteen pieces can take several months to complete. It may take several more weeks for the craftsman or artist to complete the exquisite gilt trim and lacquer finish of these one-of-a-kind nesting dolls. Intricate designs and detailed painting is what separates these handmade dolls from their Chinese-made counterparts. Additionally, Russian matryoshkas often feature styles that take inspiration from Russian-style lacquer boxes that feature exceptionally detailed painting styles and small miniature landscapes. Russian dolls are also painted using bright and bold colors compared to those painted elsewhere. Counterfeits are often noted for their low-quality paint and poor-quality colors. Authentic matryoshka dolls will have bold and contrasting color combinations of red, blue and yellow on the dolls’ dress, giving them a bright and cheerful look and making them stand out from the crowd.
If you are looking to buy the best quality nesting doll, you can choose dolls made by experienced and skilled craftsmen in one of four towns famous for making them. Nesting dolls from the famous Russian craft towns of “Fedoskino”, “Palekh”, “Kholui” and “Mstera” are very popular and unique. This is because the artists of the aforementioned towns usually study in specialized craft colleges. They are professionally trained painters and craftsmen recognized by Russian art guilds and other organizations. These towns are the well-known places for the art of making babushka or matryoshka dolls. Often the artist will sign a high-quality matryoshka and the artist will also indicate the city where she lives. This is a hallmark of true Russian nesting dolls.
In conclusion, real Russian matryoshka dolls always feature high-quality raw materials, such as linden-wood egg-based tempera paints, Russian-style color schemes, and Russian-themed landscapes or colors. High-quality dolls will almost always feature intricate paint, gilt trim, and a very high-quality clear lacquer finish to protest dolls for centuries. Finally, it is also common for the largest and most expensive matryoshkas to be signed by the artist or craftsman.