Wooden Toys from Semionov (Part 3) Traditional toys for tiny tots are being reborn, such as painted wooden balls, scoops, apples, pyramids of brightly coloured rings and an egg with a surprise—a chick hidden within! Turned souvenirs such as The Water-carrier, The Good Housewife with her samovar and The Grandad-forester are reminiscent of old figurines called baliasinkas, made in the past by local spindle turners. Such figures may be used for fanciful chess sets or for scenes of folk gatherings with balalaika and accordion players. Another trend in contemporary Semionov toy-making consists in glueing together turned parts. This allows the making of more complicated toys, such as a Volga riverboat with captain and sailors, a market merry-go-round, a fire engine with crew, and fairy-tale themes. Especially popular among the latter are themes with horses, a favourite image of folk art. Such toys, made in the manner of the old Nizhny Novgorod horse on wheels, depict mounted bogatyrs (legendary heroes of Russian folklore), various carts, and the triumphant entry of Tsar Dodon and the Queen of Shemakha, the characters of Alexander Pushkin’s Tale of the Golden Cockerel. The art of making wooden toys, constantly in the process of development, delights both children and grown-ups and fosters in all the love of beauty. (Aurora Art, 1988)
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 11:01:36 +0000