The Russian Matryoshka Doll

The existence of the first matryoshka doll was recorded in Moscow during the 1890s, and was carved by Vasily Zvyozdochkin. These brightly decorated wooden dolls also go by the name of nesting dolls, as well as babushka dolls. The most commonly seen nesting dolls are decorated to resemble a young woman in traditional dress, wearing an elaborate head scarf. Traditionally, each wooden doll appears nearly identical to that of its larger version, and there can be many layers of dolls within dolls. The first doll had only eight layers, but today this number varies greatly. The nesting doll is one of the most recognizable Russian objects, and is very popular not only among the Russians themselves but also to tourists. These matryoshka dolls were historically given to young women as a gift from their beloved ones, but became wildly popular in the 1900s after winning a bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Paris.