Semionov Matryoshka Dolls – A Legacy of Color & Tradition

The town of Semionov has long been a major center of Matryoshka doll production, known for its bold, vibrant designs. The iconic Semionov style began in 1922 when Arsenty Fedorovich Mayorov brought an unpainted nesting doll from the Nizhny Novgorod Fair. His daughter, Luba, hand-painted the first design using a quill and red dye, adding a bright ox-eye daisy at the center and a traditional kokoshnik on the doll’s head.

By the 1930s, Semionov became a hub for Matryoshka craftsmanship, drawing inspiration from the Mayorov family’s original designs. Today, these dolls are instantly recognizable by their striking red, blue, and yellow color palette, which adorns the scarf, sarafan, and apron in endless artistic variations.