December 2010, Issue 11
Dollhouse Tourism, Russia
Page 77
Traditionally the first doll is a woman, dressed in a sarafan. The second may be either male or female and the smallest, innermost doll is typically a solid baby. All have a rounded shape, with all body parts painted on the surface of each doll. Some of the painting is extremely detailed and they are therefore highly prized pieces. The dolls are typically created to follow a particular theme, such as a family, a fairy tale or a work of literature, or even Soviet leaders.
Russian nesting dolls and Lacquer boxes can be found in all classes of the Russian population, from the very expensive, highly detailed dolls to the less expensive, less detailed dolls. But the epitome of miniature Russian art can only be found in the glass cases of the very wealthy, museums, or the occasional James Bond film: Faberge eggs.
These incredible precious works of art were produced for the Imperial ruling classes in Russia by esteemed jeweler Peter Carl Faberge.
Although there were thousands of jeweled eggs made by the House of Faberge from 1885 through 1917, most of these were miniature pieces
Custom Dolls, Houses & Miniatures / CDHM