The Russian Nesting Dolls, known as Matryoshka dolls, are a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other, often painted in traditional folk attire. The first Matryoshka was created in 1890 by Russian craftsman Vasily Zvyozdochkin and painted by Sergey Malyutin in the Abramtsevo workshop near Moscow. Inspired by Japanese nesting dolls representing the Seven Gods of Fortune, the Russian version became a symbol of motherhood, family, and continuity, with the largest doll often representing a matriarch. Over time, Matryoshkas evolved to depict not only traditional peasant women but also fairy tale characters, historical figures, and even political personalities, becoming a beloved icon of Russian culture and a popular souvenir worldwide.
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