Russian culture is a mixture of Russian art, literature, philosophy, paintings, humors, handicrafts, music, etc. Russia's delayed participation in the globalization process held back its popularity in many other countries. Russian art and paintings include within it various gift items, handicrafts, etc., in which Russian nesting dolls need special mention. One will never miss the nesting dolls of Russia in any exhibitions conducted worldwide.
The peculiarity of Russian nesting dolls are that, they are of small size, and one will find similar but small sized dolls kept one inside the other. So one can remove or separate one doll from the other to find a similar but decreased sized doll. The number may vary and there is no hard and fast rule about the number of dolls to be placed one inside the other, but usually, they follow odd numbers like five or 7 etc. However, the numbers can go up to hundreds. They are also termed as 'Matryoshka". It was named after a female peasant "Matryona" and one will never miss,nesting dolls of peasant woman dressed in the traditional dress.
The first Russian doll was made in Sergiev Posad by Sergei Maliutin and Vassilliy Zviozdochkin. Earlier wood was used in preparing these dolls and the images were painted on those wooden dolls. Another specialty in these dolls is these Russian dolls do not have carved hands; they are only painted on the doll. These dolls are almost cylindrical and they have a top (head region) rounded and they diminish at the bottom. It is a Lilliputian or a pocket-sized form of matryona. One can also find Russian dolls that range from characters of fairy tale to political leaders of Soviet Russia, musicians, film stars, varieties of animals etc.
These Russian nesting dolls are also used for gifting purpose. Russian gifts are gifted for wedding functions as presents, for house warming functions etc. These are considered as perfect gifts, since they are considered as a symbol of richness and motherliness. Children use such hand-made dolls as toys. Russian gifts pattern include within itself variety of items. They include amber jewelry,Christmas ornaments, handmade dolls, Lacquer Boxes, Baltic Amber jewelry etc.
Russian amber stones are considered precious and auspicious by Russians and they believe that the amber stones possess magical powers. Almost every woman in Russia will have Russian amber jewelry in her jewel collection. Amber is considered the living gemstone of nature. When amber stones are burnt, it will give rise to pleasant odor. Amber stones are used, in preparing perfumes. The level of succinic acid present in Baltic amber, determines its quality. Due to these properties, amber jewelry and Baltic amber are considered worth gifting.
Russian Culture stores within itself many traditional values of Russian art. One can find US company carrying on with the business of selling Russian gifts and they do carry on gift wrapping service. The author is himself an artist and has done researches on Russian art and has contributed to a greater extend literally.
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