Nesting Stacking

Nesting Stacking

Russian Nesting Dolls: The Oldest Symbol Of Human Culture

Popularly known as nesting dolls, these were first to be termed as matryoshkas that represented the Latin word 'mater' meaning mother. The matryoshkas are the perfect depiction of motherhood as well as fertility. In Old Russian peasant families, the mother was the bond that held the family together with all its numerous members. These nesting dolls were first made in the 19th century precisely in the year 1890 just for entertainment. In fact, somewhere in the same period a similar stacking doll was made in Japan of an old Buddhist sage called Fukuruma. These were dolls with the images of the Japanese sage that was reportedly made by a Russian monk.

As time passed by, various other images were also drawn on these incredible pieces of supreme Russian artistry. Images from anything like cats to Russian presidents were artfully painted on these dolls. Although typical Russian nesting dolls are known to hone images of beautiful women with pink cheeks and scarf on their head and an apron on their bodies, at a certain time in the past these nesting dolls also had male figurines from ancient Russian tradition and folktales like 'Boyarin', 'Grandfather Turnip' and more generally 'Old Man'. But since the word doll is usually associated to the feminine gender and the word matryoshka means mother these dolls were majorly manufactured with the images of a woman.

The Russian nesting doll that costs only a few dollars is more than what she seems. She can easily represent almost any woman of today who carries within herself multiple responsibilities and also the love and care and other emotions of a number of people related to her. She is the thriving link to them all and thus holds them in a single body structure, all within herself.

Genuine Russian nesting dolls are hard to find unless you are lucky enough to come across a retailer who has Russian roots and sells authentic matryoshkas that are originally handcrafted in Russia. They are one of those artifacts in the world that is a must-have and is worth every penny that is spent on it since it carries immense historical significance as well as mythological importance of Russian past.

Irina is an online retailing expert that has a passion for Russian gifts as well as Russian culture and history. In greatrussiangifts.com one can find unique, authentic handmade Russian gifts and Russian nesting dolls. Shop our exclusive collection of lacquer boxes, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, amber, accessories, collectible gifts and more.

 

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birds made a nest in the vent stack from my hot water tank/furnace - any ways of clearing it ????

tried a couple different ways of clearing it -
the vent stack liner runs through the chimney - nest stuck somewhere up in there - tried using weight attached to string and droppping it down the vent liner - but not working well
expensive to get done i heard - i also tried a drain snake from both ends.............help - needs to vent properly......

Try blowing it out with a vacuum cleaner by hooking up to the exhaust end .

Wordless Wednesday - Nesting and Stacking Blocks