Dymkovo toys
Dymkovo toys,also known as theVyatka toysorKirov toys(Дымковская игрушка, вятская игрушка, кировская игрушкаinRussian) are moulded paintedclayfigures of people and animals (sometimes in the form of apennywhistle). It is one of the oldRussianfolk arthandicrafts,which still exists in the village ofDymkovonearKirov(former Vyatka). Traditionally, the Dymkovo toys are made by women.
The tradition of making pennywhistles in the form of a horse, a horse rider, and a bird goes back to the ancient magic ritual images[citation needed]and has to do with theagriculturalcalendarholidays. Later, the little figures lost their magic meaning and turned into toys for children, the making of which would become an artistic handicraft. Up until the 20th century, this toy production had been timed to the spring fair calledсвистунья,or whistler. The first recorded mentioning of this event took place in 1811, but it is believed to have existed for some 400 years, thus dating the history of the Dymkovo toy at least from the 17th century.
In the late 19th century the handicraft fell into decline because the Dymkovo toys had been forced out of the market by thefactory-made mouldedplasterstatuettes, which imitatedporcelainarticles. DuringSoviettimes, however, the Dymkovo handicraft was revived. In 1933, they[who?]organized anartelcalledВятская игрушка(The Vyatka Toy), which would turn into aworkshopof the Artistic Fund of the RSFSR (Russian:Художественный фонд РСФСР). These days, the Dymkovo toys are known as a popular Russiansouvenir.
The Dymkovo toys are moulded from a mixture of localpotter's clay and riversand.The parts are then fastened together with watery clay. After the toys are dried andtemperedin afurnace,they are whitewashed withchalkdiluted in milk, then painted withtempera(before 1953, the artists usedanilinepaints ground with eggs) in 4 to 10 (or more) colors, and decorated withgold leaf.
Modern Dymkovo toys include ancient motifs, as well as those of the second half of the 19th century, such asбарыни(barynyas, or landladies),няньки(nyanki, or nannies),водоноски(vodonoski, or female watercarriers) and others. In the 1930s, the Dymkovo toys began to depictfairy talesand a contemporary lifestyle. There were also multi-character compositions on stands, and figures of people taller than 30 cm.
Massive, abstract, and somewhat grotesque forms of the Dymkovo toys are emphasized by ruffles, puffed collars, and other features. The improvised bright painting of the toys represents a geometric ornament of circles, checks, and dots of different colors and sizes.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Энциклопедия земли Вятской.Том 10, Ремёсла. ГИПП «Вятка», 2000 год.ISBN5-85271-041-5/ The Encyclopedia of Vyatka Land. Vol. 10, Handicrafts. Vyatka, 2000.ISBN5-85271-041-5.(in Russian)
- Dymkovo toy: all about the history and the best makersArchived2010-03-25 at theWayback Machine(in Russian)
