brooch with three hand-painted matryoshkas, USSR-era

brooch with three hand-painted matryoshkas, USSR-era

About this piece

A charming folk-inspired brooch depicting three nesting dolls in miniature, hand-painted with characteristic Soviet warmth. The wooden base is a warm mustard yellow, and each matryoshka is rendered with individuality: black linear details define their headscarves and collars, whilst their bodies are softly shaded in cream and pale sage, decorated with rosy floral sprigs in red and pink. The smallest doll sits snugly nested within the composition, and all three wear the traditional red hems of their sarafans.

This is a quintessentially Russian design motif, celebrating the country’s folk heritage at a time when traditional crafts were cherished as symbols of cultural identity. The hand-painting shows genuine care and slight variation between each figure—the mark of artisanal work rather than mass production. The brooch shows light wear consistent with gentle vintage use; the varnish remains glossy and the colours remain clear and true. A sterling silver pin fastening secures it firmly to clothing.