Russian Doll

A Russian doll, commonly known as a matryoshka doll, is a traditional Russian nesting doll consisting of a set of wooden figures that decrease in size and fit neatly inside one another. First created in the late 19th century by Russian craftsman Vasily Zvyozdochkin, with the original design painted by folk artist Sergey Malyutin, the matryoshka was inspired by earlier Japanese nesting figures but quickly became a symbol of Russian folk art. Traditionally carved from linden or birch wood and decorated with brightly colored patterns, these dolls often depict themes of family, folklore, or cultural motifs, and they remain one of Russia’s most recognizable handcrafted souvenirs.