* The Story of the Nesting Doll (Museum of Russian Icons)

The Museum of Russian Icons is pleased to unveil a new special exhibition tracing the history of the nesting doll around the world. Through a selection of dolls from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Japan, and other countries, the exhibit tells the story of this iconic folk art from its origins in Asia to its cross-cultural influences on the tourist trade, toy markets, and various folk traditions. 
 
Exhibit curator Laura Garrity-Arquitt selected 150 dolls featuring traditional designs, factory-made sets from the Soviet period, satirical political characters (including our own US presidents and politicians), and exquisitely designed artisan dolls. The exhibit was made possible by the generosity of collector Pamela Kruskal, who gifted her encyclopedic collection of 370 sets of dolls to the Museum in the summer of 2015. Matryoshki loaned by local collector Larissa Dyan amplify the exhibit.