Wooden Toys from Semionov (Part 2) At the Semionov souvenir enterprise, the skills of the older generations of toy-makers—the Vagins, the Mordashovs and the Sharygins—are being passed to young craftsmen. The virtuoso turners can make a matrioshka of any size, from a miniature three-centimetre doll to enormous ones that can hold 30, 50 or even 70 figures. Although the shape of the toy is traditional, the unique hand-painting makes each matrioshka original and inimitable: she has her own distinctive expression, sometimes an inviting smile and sometimes serious dignity. The bouquets are also individual: some have roses, poppies and dahlias that can be found in any Semionov kitchen garden, and others combine a simple crimson meadow carnation with random grass designs. The brush moves in many different ways sometimes accurately and carefully, sometimes boldly and quickly, and sometimes easily and freely, with a broad sweep. Among the best artists are Anna Galkina, Anna Riabinina and Tatyana Lebedeva. In the 1960s, novel variations of the traditional matrioshka began to appear, such as The Good Family Man, a neat Semionov chap with his wife and children, and The Wedding Souvenir, with a young Russian man and a local beauty in gay folk costumes. A new contemporary version of the toy has been introduced by Ivan Sorokin, who created a whole team of astronauts fitting into a cosmic rocket decorated with flowers. Since the formation of the experimental laboratory at the enterprise, the range of creative activity has noticeably expanded in several directions. Headed by the artist Ivan Sorokin, the turners Ivan Bushuyev, Yevgeny Bezrukov and Vladimir Mayorov, the joiner Ivan Kozlov, and the painters Tatyana Lebedeva and Anna Riabinina have created a number of interesting toys based on themes from fairy-tales, folk festivals and on contemporary motifs. (Aurora Art, 1988)
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:46:26 +0000
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