Russian Matryoshka

Do You know anybody who is about 100 years old?
Nice to meet you! I`m a Russian staking doll. And I`m about 100 years old.

What Is a Staking Doll?
Russian staking doll, or matryoshka, as it is called in Russian, is probably the most popular Russian national souvenir.

Also, it seems that
matryoshka has come
to us from
ancient times,
from
the world of legends
and
fairy tales.

The Very Beginning of the Russian Matryoshka.
The first Russian matryoshka was made in 1809 in the Children's Education work-shop, situated inside the Abramtsevo estate.

Once, at traditional Saturday meeting, somebody brought a funny Japanese figurine of a good-natured bald-headed old man called Fukuruma.
The doll consisted of several figurines nestled within one another. It had 7 figurines.

Japanese Matryoshka
Fukuruma

There is a legend that the first doll of this type was made by unknown Russian monk on the Island of Honshu . Actually, this type of nesting toy was well known before − Russian craftsmen carved wooden Easter eggs.

Why it is called “Matryoshka”?
Russian wooden dolls with smaller dolls inside are called matryoskas. In old Russian, the name Matryona or Matriosha was a very popular female name among peasants.
This name is associated with the image of a mother of a big peasant family.