BALLOON BABUSHKA
A family of 3 nesting dolls each with balloons.
Material: Linden, paint, lacquer.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
Design: Aamu Song / COMPANY 2021
Size: 210 x 120 x 120 mm

     

SECRETS OF RUSSIA
Balloon Babushka is a new member to our Secrets of Russia family. Several years ago Aamu Song and Johan Olin set on a journey to explore Russian manufacturing secrets. The travels, which took us from Moscow to Urals, into Siberia and to the Caucasus, resulted in collaboration with tens of traditional manufacturers. After each factory visit – and after we learned each of the traditional manufacturing skills – we designed new products based on these traditions.




Master wood turner Alexanrd at his workshop. That mountain of wood shavings is waiting for the winter when it is burned to heat the workshop.




Master Alexandra at work. She bathes each matryoshka in potato starch to give it a good surface to paint on.




Painting of matryoshkas. Each Master is specialized in either qouache paints or traditional anilin paints. And further they specialize in painting of face, of flowers or scarves.




Lacquer is applied in several layers to achieve a smooth, glossy surface.




Visiting Matryoshka Masters in Semenov, Russia.