The Balalaika Classical Nesting Doll makes a great musical addition to any Russian stacking doll collection. Each of the first four nesting dolls carries a different Old World instrument (balalaika, accordion, tambourine, and horn), ready to play for your entertainment. The smallest doll coquettishly waves a handkerchief as she dances to this lively folk music. While this is indeed an excellent gift for musicians and connoisseurs of traditional musical instruments alike, what I like most about this doll is simply the striking juxtaposition of the royal blue scarf and the cherry red dress – it's eye-popping! The hand-painted forget-me-nots on the shawl will impress you, too. The lovely work continues on the back of the doll. You may buy her as a gift, but you'll keep her in the end!
Production Techniques: Hand Painting. This nesting doll was carved in the Upper Volga region, the Russian center of nesting doll carving. The carved pieces were assembled, doll inside a doll, and then delivered to the Golden Cockerel workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia. Our artists painstakingly hand paint every detail, beginning with backgrounds and moving to the finer elements that require a brush of very select Siberian squirrel hair. It is daunting to think of the time and talent invested in each of the nesting pieces! Finally we baptize each doll in multiple layers of non-toxic water-based lacquer to make a marvelous matryoshka that will delight children and collectors. The bottom of the largest doll gets stamped with Golden Cockerel's "Made in Russia " mark of nesting doll quality, initialed by the artist, and dated like a true collectible. We can only hope you will give it a good home.