Collectible Rare Nesting Wooden Russian and 49 similar items

There are Russia folk craft in which images from famous paintings, including portraits by Vladimir Borovikovsky, are used to decorate traditional Russian nesting dolls. Matryoshka dolls in this style are made by applied artists( in this case Artist Minakova N. B the city of Ryazan ) inspired by classical Russian painting, including Borovikovsky's works, such as this set include 5 matryoshkas with paintings of (from biggest to smallest): 1. Portrait of Ekaterina Arsenyeva (1790) . Matryoshka approx 6.5? tall 2. Portrait of Elena Naryshkina(1799). Matryoshka approx 5.5? tall 3. Portrait of Maria Lopukhina (1797). Matryoshka approx . 4? tall. Has some tiny dents . 4. Portrait of Varvara Alekseevna Shidlovskaya (1798). Matryoshka approx. 2.5? tall. 5. Portrait of A.I. Vasilyeva (1794). Matryoshka approx. 2? tall. Overall in excellent condition . This set was purchased in 1993 for $500. See the label on the bottom of largest nesting doll .