What are the Russian nesting dolls called?

Answer 1

A MATRYOSHKA doll is a Russian nesting doll. Usually made of wood, the matryoshka consists of several dolls that are similarly shaped and fit one inside the other. When you pull the doll apart, another one, slightly smaller, sits inside. There are usually six or more dolls in a set. The female dolls are called "baboushkas," which is Russian for a "cute old woman," and the male dolls are called "dedoushka", meaning "cute old man." The shape is mostly cylindrical, rounded at the top for the head and tapered towards the bottom.

It is believed that the first matryoshka dates from 1890, and is said to have been inspired by a doll of the Japanese artist Fukuruma. The first Russian one was said to be carved by Vasiliy Zvezdochkin and painted by Sergei Maliutin. It consisted of eight dolls; the outermost was a girl in an apron. The dolls alternated between boy and girl, with the innermost doll being a baby.

The name "Matryoshka" is said to have been adopted from the name Matryona or Matriosha. Both of these names were very popular among Russian peasants. Since the name had the Latin root of "mater" or "mother," this name was associated with the image of a mother of a big peasant family who was very healthy and had a portly figure.-

Answer 2

Matryoshka doll or a Russian nested doll (also called a stacking doll or Babushka doll) is a set of dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside another. "Matryoshka" is a derivative of the Russian female first name "Matryona", which is traditionally associated with a corpulent, robust, rustic Russian woman.

A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure which can be pulled apart to reveal another figure of the same sort inside. It has, in turn, another figure inside, and so on. The number of nested figures is usually five or more. The shape is mostly cylindrical, rounded at the top for the head and tapered towards the bottom, but little else; the dolls have no hands (except those that are painted). Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan, holding a rooster. Inside, it contains other figures that may be of both genders, usually ending in a baby that does not open. The artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be extremely elaborate.

Matryoshkas are often designed to follow a particular theme, for instance peasant girls in traditional dress, but the theme can be anything, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders.
Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll

Answer 3

Matryoshka doll

Answer 4

scotts on the ball!

Answer 5

a poor kids toy...lol