St. Basil's Cathedral Nesting Doll 5pc./6"

The most recognized image of Russia, and one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world, is celebrated on this nesting doll made at the Golden Cockerel workshop. The cathedral was commissioned by the infamous Tsar Ivan the Terrible (pictured on doll #3) in 1552 to commemorate his military victory over the Mongols of Kazan and Astrakhan. Eight chapels, each featuring a unique onion dome, surround the central tower, representing eight advances in Ivan's campaign and symbolizing the towers of the New Jerusalem (Moscow). The first and second dolls in this set capture front and back views of the enormous cathedral, as well as the Kremlin walls lining Red Square.  The fourth doll depicts the humble St. Basil, namesake of the cathedral, who is actually entombed within.  On the littlest doll you'll find Postnik, the master architect of the cathedral.  According to legend, Tsar Ivan asked the trembling architect if he could surpass this cathedral with one more magnificent. When, trembling, Postnik replied that if the Tsar commanded it, then he could do it, Ivan had him blinded so that a structure more beautiful would never grace the Earth. We hope that nesting doll collectors would not ask us a similar question regarding our creation of this St. Basil's Cathedral nesting doll. 

Production techniques involve a combination of hand painting and decoupage.