What are Russian Nesting Dolls?
Matryoshka, as Russian nesting dolls are called in their native country, is a name that has its roots in the Latin word for mother—mater. The allusion to motherhood well befits this emblematic folk craft. Russian nesting dolls are figurines carved of wood that open in the middle to bear a series of similar, smaller figurines; each larger ‘mother’ doll contains a smaller ‘daughter’ doll inside. In shape, Russian nesting dolls resemble squat bowling pins—a round head at the top that widens to form the curved base of its torso and legs. There are no three-dimensional limbs—all the details of its body and face are painted on the doll. There are a potentially infinite number of dolls possible within a set, but generally Russian nesting dolls contain between four and twelve dolls.
