Animal Nesting Dolls. From realistic depictions of dogs, cats, horses, and birds, to cartoonist representation of chickens, bears, frogs, penguins and more, The Russian Store features a vast selection of animal matryoshka nesting dolls imported directly to us from Russia...
Animal Nesting Dolls
Russian folk art is thriving around the world right now. Probably the most recognizable medium for Russian folk art is the nesting doll. No matter where you go in the world, people all over recognize nesting dolls as not only being from Russia, but as representing Russian culture and art. Almost immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union, the export of Russian nesting dolls went through the roof. As trade began to pick up again between Russia and the rest of the non-communist world, people were again in awe at the splendor and majesty of Russian art. Russian dolls began to be exported from the country at a very rapid pace. Today the nesting doll is still considered Russian by orgin, but many other parts of the world have learned to appreciate this clever metaphor for its artistic integrity, and the simple charm that comes free with every nesting doll.
Often refereed to as Matryoshka (Matroshka, Matreshka, Matroshka, Matryoshkas, or Matrioshka) dolls, Russian stacking dolls, Russian nested dolls, or Babushka dolls, Russian nesting dolls have been around since about 1890. The story is told that one of the first nesting dolls ever created had a beautifully drawn picture of a hen on it. The original nesting doll depicted a traditional peasant woman holding the hen in fact. This age-old tradition of decorating wooden nesting dolls with Russian animals still lives on today, and here at The Russian Store we love to celebrate this tradition with our collection of amazing animal nesting dolls. After decades of ingenuity, and creativity, the animal motif is still not only present in the nesting doll community, but it is thriving. Some of our most popular Russian dolls feature depictions, representations, and illustrations of animals of all sorts, whether in a charming and colorful cartoon, or an actual portrait, there's an animal doll for everyone out there.
Do you like sea critters, insects, or farm animals? Or perhaps you fancy the more traditional cat and dog combo. We have them all. One of our top selling lines of nesting dolls is our "Mans Best Friend" collection. Everyone has a favorite variety of dog, and one of our specialties is catering to those looking for a unique way to honor their favorite canine, or just a great gift for that dog lover who has a rare breed of dog. Our dog nesting dolls are true works of art that we're proud to offer, and the artists are proud to create. Each nesting doll features a different portrait of a particular variety of dog, and each doll is signed by the artist. Unfortunately you can't play fetch with the dolls, but hey, at least they won't chew up your sneakers! Whether you just want to give a gift to someone who has the personality of a certain dog, or a gift to the owner of a certain dog, or if you're just looking for a unique, and charming little work of art to show off your love of canines, our imported Russian nesting dolls would make a fantastic conversation piece to be admired for years to come.
The Russian Store also has an extensive collection of glass figurine animals.

