Keywords
traditional doll, folk doll, doll in traditional costume, folk costume, Russian culture, ethnographic dolls, national identity, national cultural code, traditional crafts, doll replicas, museum collections,
How to Cite
Kovaleva N. I., Sorokina M. A., Mishina M. A. A doll in a traditional costume: history and modernity // The Art of Eurasia, 2026. № 3 (42). P. 162–181. URL: https://doi.org/10.46748/ARTEURAS.2026.03.008.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Abstract
This study aims to trace the evolution of dolls in traditional costume, examine current creative challenges in doll creation, and classify the works of contemporary doll makers. These aspects have not yet been addressed in Russian art history. The study’s material includes examples of historical dolls from the 18th and 19th centuries stored in museums, as well as the work of contemporary workshops and ethnological clubs. The empirical basis of the study is formed by materials obtained by the authors through personal communication with artisans involved in the restoration and popularisation of traditional dolls. The research examines projects by the Paraskeva (Saint Petersburg), Supryadki (Tver), and other clubs and groups creating replicas of historical dolls and compositions based on folk rituals, crafts, and everyday culture. Three contemporary approaches to doll creation are conceptually distinguished: an exact ethnographic replica, an original stylisation, and a narrative composition. It is shown that contemporary artists preserve ancient costume and doll-making techniques, but reinterpret these traditions through art exhibitions and cultural projects. It is concluded that dolls in traditional costumes are becoming not only objects of decorative art but also an important means of preserving historical memory, national identity, and interest in the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. A promising direction for further development is the exploration of traditional costumes from the various peoples of multinational Russia.
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