'Russian Bylina'

Size: approx. 7.2 inches Metric: 18 cm Consists of: 7 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 12-15 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: As all of our nesting dolls, this outstanding ''Russian Bylina'' set is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 5-7 layers of crystal clear lacquer. The whole set is painted by an artist who is also a professional icon-painter. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN BYLINAS embodied in an exclusive-quality nesting doll 'Bylina' or 'bilyna' is a Russian epic song (equivalent of a 'legend'), reflecting some historical event(s). The most famous ones were the bylinis of Ilya Murometz and 'Sadko' (you may read more about Ilya Murometz and 'Sadko' below). This 7-piece 'Bylina' nesting doll is drawn by a professional icon-painting artist from Palekh. Each piece of the nesting dolls shows a scene from a different Russian bylina: 1st doll - Three Warriors. 2nd doll - Dorbynya & Serpent. Dobrynya was a good friend of Ilya Murometz. Was empowered with a miraculous strength. Serpent in Russian bylinas is a symbol of paganism. Dobrynya's victory over the Serpent implied the superiority of the Russian culture over barbarism. 3rd doll - Warrior on the Crossroads. 4th doll - Sadko. 5th doll - Mikula Selyaninovich. Generalized person embodying Russian peasants as the foundation of the culture. 6th doll - Svyatogor. An embodiment of unparalleled strength of Russian men. 7th doll - Avdotya Ryazanochka. Yes, Russian bylinas were not only male-centered. They had also praised women. This particular Russian lady was hailed for patriotism in helping her countrymen flee from the enemy's captivity. The quality of this seven-piece nesting doll is exceptional.