What is a Matryoshka doll?
Matryoshka dolls are sets of hollow dolls designed to nest one inside another. They are cut in half at the waist with the intent to be opened. The original set of matryoshka art dolls was originally created in Russia in 1890 by Sergei Maliutin and Vasiliy Zvezdochkin, inspired by Japanese kokeshi dolls. The outermost figure is usually that of a woman in traditional Russian garb. Each successive doll is smaller than its predecessor, and the innermost doll is usually a baby that cannot be opened. The original matryoshka dolls were presented at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and won a medal. Modern matryoshka designs can include animals, Soviet leaders, fairy tale figures, and pop culture icons.
