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Musical minstrels

Reference #

nd179-07

Price

$137.40

We are glad to present you the nesting doll Musical minstrels. This nesting doll is a truly work of art. There are 7 figures of similar beautiful Russian girls. On each of the dolls musical minstrels are depicted. Russian minstrels, skomorokhs are playing Russian musical instruments like balalaika. In Russia wandering male minstrels of the peasant class, called skomorokh, sang epic. Epic singing was a profession, which required training. The average person did not just pick up a dombra (the string instrument used to accompany epic singing) and begin singing these songs. They were reserved for a certain group and have a ritual quality about them. In Russia, epics were traditionally sung at yearly cycle rituals and at weddings. The minstrels were originally accorded a great deal of respect and would precede the priest in processions on religious holidays, such as Easter. During the 18th century in Russia, the church and government began a systematic attack on epic singers. These attacks resulted in the decline of the profession, and many of the singers fled to the north.The tallest one is 7", the smallest - 1 1/4". This exceptional HAND PAINTED ART Nesting Doll was painted and lacquered in our own workshop. The wooden part was created out of birch wood from the forests near Moscow. The bigger figure opens up to fit the smaller one inside it. It takes a lot of time to make these dolls. The tree was cut in spring, stripped of its bark leaving a few rings to prevent the wood from cracking when dried. The logs were dried and kept in the open for several years. The logs are then cut in smaller pieces. All the operations do not involve any measurement and rely on intuition and require great skill. After the turning work on a lathe is done the dolls are cleaned, primed with starchy glue to make its surface smooth, polished and now are ready for painting. After having been hand-painted they are dried for several days. Then the dolls are ready for the lacquer to be applied. Many different coats are needed to give the doll the brilliant shine. The dolls are covered with 6 or 7 layers of lacquer.

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