Matryoshka doll#As metaphor

File:First matryoshka museum doll open.jpg and Malyutin, 1892]]

The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 at the Children's Education Workshop by Vasily Zvyozdochkin and designed by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter in the Abramtsevo estate of Savva Mamontov, a Russian industrialist and patron of arts.{{cite web |url=http://www.russianlife.com/article.cfm?Number=196 |title=Matryoshka – Soul of Russia |work=Russian Life |access-date=2011-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817043128/http://www.russianlife.com/article.cfm?Number=196 |archive-date=2011-08-17 |url-status=dead}}{{cite book |title=Russia in search of itself |first=James H. |last=Billington |publisher=Woodrow Wilson Center Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-8018-7976-0 |pages=148, 208 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zRVi2XpqJuIC&q=Japanese+Matryoshka&pg=PA148 |access-date=2016-04-30}} Mamontov's brother, Anatoly Ivanovich Mamontov (1839–1905), created the Children's Education Workshop to make and sell children's toys. The doll set was painted by Malyutin. Malyutin's doll set consisted of eight dolls—the outermost was a mother in a traditional dress holding a red-combed rooster. The inner dolls were her children, girls and a boy, and the innermost a baby. The Children's Education Workshop was closed in the late 1890s, but the tradition of the matryoshka simply relocated to Sergiyev Posad, the Russian city known as a toy-making center since the fourteenth century.{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Gillian |title=Matryoshka Doll |url=http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Matryoshka-Doll.html |website=How Products Are Made |publisher=Advameg, Inc. |access-date=31 March 2019}}

The inspiration for matryoshka dolls is not clear. Matryoshka dolls may have been inspired by a nesting doll imported from Japan.{{cite web |date=2011-03-24 |title=Eastern roots of the most famous Russian toy |url=http://int.rgo.ru/news/eastern-roots-of-the-most-famous-russian-toy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301205606/http://int.rgo.ru/news/eastern-roots-of-the-most-famous-russian-toy/ |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |publisher=Russian Geographical Society}} The Children's Education workshop where Zvyozdochkin was a lathe operator received a five piece, cylinder-shaped nesting doll featuring Fukuruma (Fukurokuju) in the late 1890s,{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=8}} which is now part of the collection at the Sergiev Posad Museum of Toys. Other east Asian dolls share similarities with matryoshka dolls such as the Kokeshi dolls,{{Cite news |last=Kostomárova |first=Elena |date=2015-08-08 |title=More than just a pretty face: The secrets of the Russian matryoshka |url=https://www.rbth.com/arts/2015/08/08/the_secrets_of_the_russian_matryoshka_48375.html |access-date=2018-08-31 |language=en-US}} originating in Northern Honshū, the main island of Japan, although they cannot be placed one inside another, and the round hollow daruma doll depicting a Buddhist monk."[http://www.vokrugsveta.ru/vs/article/1660/ Три матрешки]" (Three matryoshkas), Vokrug sveta, July 1980. Another possible source of inspiration is the nesting Easter eggs produced on a lathe by Russian woodworkers during the late 19th Century.{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=6}}

Savva Mamontov's wife presented a set of matryoshka dolls at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, and the toy earned a bronze medal. Soon after, matryoshka dolls were being made in several places in Russia and shipped around the world.

File:Hakone-zaiku_Shichifukujin.jpg

File:Russian Doll.JPG

The first matryoshka dolls were produced in the Children's Education (Detskoye vospitanie) workshop in Moscow.{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=9–10 |language=en}} After it closed in 1904, production was transferred to the city of Sergiev Posad (Сергиев Посад), known as Sergiev (Сергиев) from 1919 to 1930 and Zagorsk from 1930 to 1991.{{Cite web |title=A Short History of Zagorsk and Sergiev-Posad Folk Art |url=https://therussianshop.com/a-short-history-of-zagorsk-and-sergiev-posad-folk-art/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=therussianshop.com}}

Matryoshka factories were later established in other cities and villages:

• the village of Polkhovsky Maidan (Полховский-Майдан),{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=131–134 |language=en}} which is the primary producer of matryoshka blanks, and its neighboring villages Krutets (Крутец) and Gorodets (Городец){{Cite web |title=Collectible Nesting Dolls from Polkhovsky Maidan |url=https://therussianshop.com/blog/collectible-nesting-dolls-from-polkhovsky-maidan/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Maison Russe |language=en}}
• the city of Semenov, (Семёнов){{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=135–139 |language=en}}
• the city of Kirov (Киров),{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=139–141 |language=en}} known as Vyatka (Вя́тка) (from 1780 to 1934 and renamed Kirov in 1934 although many of its institutions reverted to the name Vyatka (Viatka) in 1991{{Cite web |title=Collectible Nesting Dolls from Kirov, Vyatka and Nolinsk |url=https://therussianshop.com/blog/collectible-nesting-dolls-from-kirov-vyatka-and-nolinsk/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Maison Russe |language=en}}
• the city of Nolinsk (Нолинск){{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=139–141 |language=en}}
• the city of Yoshkar-Ola (Йошкар-Ола) in the Republic of Mari-El{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=155 |language=en}}

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the closure of many matryoshka factories, and the loosening of restrictions, independent artists began to produce matryoshka dolls in homes and art studios.{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=159 |language=en}}

Ordinarily, matryoshka dolls are crafted from linden wood. There is a popular misconception that they are carved from one piece of wood. Rather, they are produced using: a lathe equipped with a balance bar; four heavy {{convert|2|foot}} long distinct types of chisels (hook, knife, pipe, and spoon); and a "set of handmade wooden calipers particular to a size of the doll". The tools are hand forged by a village blacksmith from car axles or other salvage. A wood carver uniquely crafts each set of wooden calipers. Multiple pieces of wood are meticulously carved into the nesting set.{{cite web |last1=Karkachev |first1=Roman |date=March 11, 2014 |title=How Nesting Dolls Are Made – Full Version |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70scy4tFaUM |access-date=May 15, 2019 |format=Video |via=YouTube}}

The standard shape approximates a human silhouette{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=45–59 |language=en}} with a flared base on the largest doll for stability.{{Cite book |last=Ertl |first=Rett |title=The Art of the Russian Matryoshka |publisher=Vernissage Press, LLC |year=2003 |isbn=0-9725027-1-8 |location=Boulder, CO, USA |pages=41–45 |language=en}} Other shapes include potbelly, cone, bell, egg, bottle, sphere, and cylinder.

The size and number of pieces varies widely. The industry standard from the Soviet period, which accounts for approximately 50% of all matryoshka produced, is six inches tall and consists of 5 dolls except for matryoshka dolls manufactured in Semenov whose standard is five inches tall and consists of 6 pieces. Other common sets are the 3 piece, the 7 piece, and the 10 piece.

Matryoshka dolls painted in the traditional style share common elements. They depict female figures wearing a peasant dress (sarafan) and scarf or shawl usually with an apron and flowers.  Each successively smaller doll is identical or nearly so. Distinctive regional styles developed in different areas of matryoshka manufacture.

File:Poupées russes.JPG matryoshka dolls]] File:Matroschkas.jpgMatryoshka dolls{{cite web|url=https://www.stpgoods.com/russian-dolls/nesting-dolls-matryoshkas |title=Matryoshka dolls |work=STPgoods |date=February 2020 |access-date=2017-07-05}} are often designed to follow a particular theme; for instance, peasant girls in traditional dress. Originally, themes were often drawn from tradition or fairy tale characters, in keeping with the craft tradition—but since the late 20th century, they have embraced a larger range, including Russian leaders and popular culture.

Common themes of matryoshkas are floral and relate to nature. Often Christmas, Easter, and religion are used as themes for the doll. Modern artists create many new styles of nesting dolls, mostly as an alternative purchase option for tourism. These include animal collections, portraits, and caricatures of famous politicians, musicians, athletes, astronauts, "robots", and popular movie stars. Today, some Russian artists specialize in painting themed matryoshka dolls that feature specific categories of subjects, people, or nature. Areas with notable matryoshka styles include Sergiyev Posad, Semionovo (now the town of Semyonov),"[http://rbth.com/articles/2011/07/15/the_hardworking_women_behind_the_matryoshkas_hope_for_an_olympic_boo_13151.html The hardworking women behind the matryoshkas hope for an Olympic boost]". July 18, 2011, Natalya Radulova, Ogonyok {{ill|Polkhovsky Maydan|ru|Полховский Майдан}}, and the city of Kirov.

The largest set of matryoshka dolls in the world is a 51-piece set hand-painted by Youlia Bereznitskaia of Russia, completed in 2003. The tallest doll in the set measures {{convert|53.97|cm|in}}; the smallest, {{convert|0.31|cm|in}}. Arranged side-by-side, the dolls span {{convert|3.41|m|ftin|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-russian-nesting-doll-(matryoshka)/|title=Largest Russian nesting doll (matryoshka)|work=guinnessworldrecords.com|date=25 April 2003 |access-date=15 January 2017}}

Matryoshkas are also used metaphorically, as a design paradigm, known as the "matryoshka principle" or "nested doll principle".{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} It denotes a recognizable relationship of "object-within-similar-object" that appears in the design of many other natural and crafted objects. Examples of this use include the matrioshka brain,{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} the Matroska media-container format,{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and the Russian Doll model of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The onion metaphor is similar. If the outer layer is peeled off an onion, a similar onion exists within. This structure is employed by designers in applications such as the layering of clothes or the design of tables, where a smaller table nests within a larger table, and a smaller one within that.

The metaphor of the matryoshka doll (or its onion equivalent) is also used in the description of shell companies and similar corporate structures that are used in the context of tax-evasion schemes in low-tax jurisdictions (for example, offshore tax havens).{{cite news|last1=Dunn|first1=Chido|title=Panama leaks: how are the rich getting away with it?|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2016-04-04/panama-leaks-how-are-the-rich-getting-away-with-it/|access-date=11 October 2019|publisher=ITV|date=4 January 2016}} It has also been used to describe satellites and suspected weapons in space.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-satellite-caught-shadowing-us-151217976.html |title=Science: A Russian satellite caught shadowing a US spy satellite earlier this year launched a mysterious space weapon, US Space Command says |first1=Ryan |last1=Pickrell |work=Business Insider |date=July 23, 2020 |via=Yahoo!}}

Matryoshka is often seen as a symbol of the feminine side of Russian culture.{{Cite book |last=Hubbs|first=Joanna |title=Mother Russia: The Feminine Myth in Russian Culture |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-253-20842-2 |edition=1st Midland Book |location=Bloomington |page=19 |oclc=29539185 |orig-year=1988}} Matryoshka is associated in Russia with family and fertility.{{Cite news |last=Kostomárova |first=Elena |date=2015-08-08 |title=More than just a pretty face: The secrets of the Russian matryoshka |url=https://www.rbth.com/arts/2015/08/08/the_secrets_of_the_russian_matryoshka_48375.html |access-date=2018-09-30 |pages=8–12 |language=en-US}} Matryoshka is used as the symbol for the epithet Mother Russia.{{Cite web |title=Knigi-janzen.de - Магнит в форме матрешки "Россия матушка" {{!}} Купить в интернет-магазине. |url=https://www.knigi-janzen.de/view.php?gid=678827 |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=www.knigi-janzen.de}}

Matryoshka dolls are a traditional representation of the mother carrying a child within her and can be seen as a representation of a chain of mothers carrying on the family legacy through the child in their wombs. Furthermore, matryoshka dolls are used to illustrate the unity of body, soul, mind, heart, and spirit.{{Cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Rami |title=Writing – The Sacred Art: Beyond the Page to Spiritual Practice |date=2012 |publisher=SkyLight Paths Pub |others=Shapiro, Aaron |isbn=978-1-59473-372-7 |edition=Quality paperback |location=Woodstock, VT |page=137 |oclc=767566167}}{{Cite book |first=Janet |last=Baljeu |title=Downloading Spirit: Babushka |date=2012 |publisher=Xlibris |isbn=978-1-4691-5764-1 |oclc=934717840}}{{Cite book |last=Holland|first=John |title=Power of the Soul: Inside Wisdom for an Outside World |date=2007 |publisher=Hay House |isbn=978-1-4019-1085-3 |edition=1st |location=Carlsbad, CA |page=3 |oclc=70836680}}

File:Nestingdoll.jpg

In 2020, the Unicode Consortium approved the matryoshka doll (🪆) as one of the new emoji characters in release v.13.{{cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/emoji/charts/emoji-released.html|title=Emoji Recently Added, Unicode v13.0|website=Unicode Consortium |publisher=Unicode.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508124720/http://www.unicode.org/emoji/charts/emoji-released.html|archive-date=8 May 2020}} The matryoshka or nesting doll emoji was submitted to the consortium by Jef Gray and Samantha Sunne,{{cite web|title=Proposal for Matryoshka Emoji |url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2019/19096-matryoshka-emoji.pdf|last1=Gray|first1=Jef|last2=Sunne|first2=Samantha|publisher=Unicode.org|access-date=7 May 2020}} as a non-religious, apolitical symbol of Russian-East European-Far East Asian culture.{{Cite web|title=Across China: Russian matryoshka dolls find home in northeast China - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/08/c_137806353.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208070404/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/08/c_137806353.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2019|access-date=2021-09-24|website=www.xinhuanet.com}}

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{{Commons category|Nesting dolls}}

• {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70scy4tFaUM |title=How Nesting Dolls Are Made - Full Version |first1=Roman |last1=Karkachev |date=March 11, 2014 |via=YouTube |format=Video |access-date=May 15, 2019}}

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