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Photo du Jour: Meeting of the Matryoshki – Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina

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Tricia A. Mitchell

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Matryoshka dolls await buyers at a market in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The first set of such wooden nesting dolls was made in the late 1890s. The word matryoshka, or матрёшка, means “little maiden” in Russian.

The designs of the delightful dolls featured above are pretty traditional, however, in countries such as the Czech Republic and Russia, I’ve seen politicians’ faces and those of famous athletes on these little wooden figures.

What unique faces have you encountered on matryoshka dolls during your travels?

Where in the World?

Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.

Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

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20 responses to “Photo du Jour: Meeting of the Matryoshki – Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina”

  1. rigmover Avatar
    rigmover

    Very colourful, I brought one for my wife in St Petersburg many years ago.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      I bet it was much appreciated, Mark. I’m a charm bracelet fan, and of course had to get a little silver matrioshka for my bracelet to represent Russia following our visit to St. Petersburg.

      Did you make it to Peterhof?

      Reply
      1. rigmover Avatar
        rigmover

        As normal with me It was a working visit, so not much time, did manage to visit the Hermitage Museum which was nice.

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Sounds like your schedule was short like ours. We only had time to explore a bit of the downtown and to see Peterhof. I imagine that the Hermitage must have been extraordinary?

  2. Lagos Avatar
    Lagos

    So cool! They look hand painted.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Travelagos, I think they are hand-painted. I’ve heard that squirrel-hair brushes are sometimes used to paint the delicate swirls on traditional Russian pins and nesting dolls.

      Reply
  3. belocchio Avatar
    belocchio

    A doll within a doll within a doll getting smaller and smaller. How enchanting and delightful. Virginia

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      I agree that they’re delightful, Virginia. When we were in St. Petersburg, Russia last summer, I was delighted to see a cement truck’s twirling drum painted like a matrioshka! Alas, we were stuck in traffic and I couldn’t get a good snap.

      Reply
  4. marinachetner Avatar
    marinachetner

    So pretty! Going to the stalls and buying a matryoshka is never easy – they are all so lovely! Did you buy one Tricia?

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Marina, I didn’t buy one in Mostar, but two of the sets I have go back to my childhood (and have the USSR paper labels pasted on their bottoms). It’s funny to see how the designs have really evolved – from more traditional designs to modern concepts. In St. Petersburg, we saw politicians’ and sports stars’ faces emblazoned on the figures. One in Prague depicting President Clinton had an entire cast of female characters as nesting dolls, leading up to a tiny saxophone doll.

      Was your dollhouse filled with matrioshki when you were growing up? :)

      Reply
      1. marinachetner Avatar
        marinachetner

        Yes, my mum has some beautifully painted dolls and they may be mass produced these days, but you can find some good ones. My sisters and I each have a beautiful matryoshka doll. I bought a Pittsburgh Steelers matryoshka doll for my pen pal in… Pittsburgh! he loved it!

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Now that’s one we haven’t come across on our travels – how fun! It seems they’ve found a way to cater to every market.

  5. Mirjam Avatar
    Mirjam

    Lovely matrjoshki. Here in Ukraine, we also have them.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      It seems as if the little dolls have migrated everywhere, Mirjam. Also, as a result of your nice comment, I’ve learned the proper plural for the word. :-) Thank you for commenting!

      Reply
  6. Expat Alien Avatar
    Expat Alien

    I have a set with Boris Yeltsin and Gorbachev. They can get pretty creative with their matryoshki in Russa!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Allen, na zdorovje — cheers to creativity! :)

      Reply
  7. Jar Of Salt Avatar
    Jar Of Salt

    These are awesome! I love the details in each of them :)

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Glad they brightened your day, Jar of Salt! Do you have any matrioshki?

      Reply
      1. Jar Of Salt Avatar
        Jar Of Salt

        Actually, yes! We only have one, given as a present a long, long time ago. Love the rich red and violet hues :).

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        :)