Northwest Language and Cultural Center – 2016 Fundraising Auction in Support of NWLACC's Global Cultures Program
Auction Ends: Dec 9, 2016 09:00 PM EST

Art

Matryoshka nesting dolls "Ryazan"

Item Number
102
Estimated Value
450 USD
Opening Bid
150 USD  -  Item Has a Reserve

Live Event Item

After the online close, this item went to a Live Event for further bidding. Absentee Bidding offered.

Item Description

These hand painted nesting dolls set features distinguished places of the ancient Russian city of 'Ryazan' which could be as old as Moscow or even older, and had its wooden kremlin built as early as the beginning of the 9th century AD. Ryazan was the first Russian city sacked and completely devasted by the Mongol horde of Batu Khan in 1237, from which it had never completely recovered. The charming city sites featured on the matryoshka dolls date back to a much later period of this city's history when it became a quiet provincial capital in Moscovia.

Matryoshkas are sets of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. This popular craft started in the end of the 19th century in the Moscow area, in the Abramtsevo folk craft workshop.The name "matryoshka" (маÑÂÂÂ?ÑÂÂÂ?ÑÂÂÂ?ÑÂÂÂ?ка), literally "little matron", is a diminutive form of Russian female first name "Matryona" (ÐÂÂÂ?аÑÂÂÂ?ÑÂÂÂ?ÑÂÂÂ?на). Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in sarafan, a long traditional Russian peasant jumper dress. Much of the artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be very elaborate. The dolls often follow a theme; the themes may broadly vary.

Item Special Note

Number of nesting dolls: 10

Donated By:

Maria Ellis