Painting of a Russian clay toy. Acquaintance with folk clay toys - abstract. Folk clay toy: differences in origin and manufacturing method

Russian folk toy is an important ethnic element and a monument of the traditional culture of the Russian people. It is a synthetic form of folk art, which combines the means of arts and crafts and fine arts, musical elements. A toy is also a traditional element of child rearing. Children learn about the world and socialize in society through play. Traditional folk toys vary in type, material and method of manufacture. In addition, there is a relationship of folk toys with different types of economic activities of people, tools and religious beliefs. Folk toys were an important element of socialization and education of children.

Russian folk toy is attractive for its ambiguity, depth, symbolism of the image, decorativeness, conciseness, sense of the material and its natural properties, traditional technological methods, conventional images, and many others. Folk toys depict people, fauna objects: birds, deer and elks, bears, horses, goats and other animals. Russian traditional toys are made mainly from clay, wood, straw and birch bark.

Dymkovo Russian folk toy "Water carrier"

Russian folk toy has different symbols. For example, a toy in the form of the sun, a rocking horse, a swing is a symbol of well-being. A toy in the form of an egg, a rooster - a symbol of the sky. The deer symbolizes sunlight, peace on earth and a happy marriage. The bear is a symbol of strength and wealth.

Russian folk toy made of clay and wood

For centuries, the inhabitants of a certain region created and passed on from generation to generation the original traditions of making folk toys, which were original, original and combined the national characteristics of a certain region of Russia. According to the external features of the Russian folk toy, one could understand in which particular area it was made.

Bogorodsk Russian folk toy made of wood

As mentioned above, toys were mainly made from two materials: clay (Abashevskaya, Dymkovskaya, Kargopolskaya, Pleshkovskaya and Filimonovskaya toys) and wood (Bogorodskaya Mazykskaya toy, matryoshka, bird of happiness).

Abashevskaya Russian folk toy is made of clay. Its name comes from the village of Abashevo in the Penza province. In the XIX-XX centuries. in the village of Abashevo lived the best masters of pottery, whose work was valued throughout Russia. In the Penza province, in the village of Abashevo, there were rich deposits of clay, which was originally used to make beautiful dishes. For the first time, Abashev toys began to be made in the middle of the 19th century for children's games. But after a while, toys began to be given a satirical character, with the aim of ridiculing liars and those who profit from their neighbors.

The peak of development of the Abashev toy came in the 20th century, when many craftsmen in the manufacture of clay dishes could no longer compete with factories and plants. It was during this period that most of the craftsmen started making whistles, which aroused genuine interest and even delight among children. One of the famous masters of that period was Timofey Zotkin. His work had a significant impact on subsequent generations.

The plots of the Abashev toy are varied, among the main ones are animals and birds, the main feature of which is an overly long body with a neck and short legs. Animals were often depicted with lush curls and beards. Basically sculpted sheep, deer, goats. In appearance, they resemble fantastic centaurs, which are characterized by some satire. Abashevskaya toy is designed to make fun of human vices, especially the love of money and deceit. That is why, along with unusual figurines of animals, you can see an elegant young lady, a dashing horseman and a prince in the form of a ram with a human face.

When making a toy, the master uses clay and several stacks, with the help of which he forms a figure, makes holes and patterns. After the product is fired and painted. To paint the Abashev toy, the craftsmen used oil and enamel paints, which ensured the durability and richness of the drawings. The theme of the painting is, first of all, nature and the surrounding world, not devoid of symbolism. The Abashev toy is dominated by red, green and blue colors.

The Dymkovo Russian folk toy, which is also made of clay, is widely known to this day. The Dymkovo toy has been made for more than one century. Such a toy was made in the Dymkovo settlement, located near the city of Kirov. Craftsmen worked in the Dymkovo settlement alone and in families. By the beginning of the 19th century, toys from Dymkovo had spread throughout Russia.

In those days, more than 100 thousand toys were produced per year, which were sold, including in the capital and the Orenburg province. 59 families from Dymkovo worked on their creation. The most famous masters were Koshkins And Nikulin. At the beginning of the 20th century, Dymkovo toys lost their former popularity, although already in the 1930s, Dymkovo craft began to revive in Kirov. The Dymkovo toy is traditionally made in the form of a lady, horsemen, hussars, fantastic birds and animals, and there are also multi-figure plot compositions.

The process of making a Dymkovo toy consists of two stages: sculpting the product and painting it. There are traditions in the creation of the form of the toy and in the design, expressed primarily in the static, pomp of the forms and the brightness of the painting. For example, in the composition "Mother with Children" the figure of a woman looks straight ahead, she seemed to freeze in this position. The same static is present in toys depicting birds and animals.

The following images of the Dymkovo toy are especially popular.:

The turkey is colorful, like a peacock.
The lady is both an elegant city person and a traditional peasant woman in a kokoshnik. Children can be depicted next to her.
Lamb - figurines of this animal can be with different sizes of horns. Note that they are always gilded. Lambs are depicted as ordinary or in smart clothes.
Horse - traditionally in bright blue colors.
Men in the Dymkovo toy are most often depicted as a rider on a horse, a walking city or village cavalier.
Pigs, birds, bells. Depicted in different variations and tones.

For the manufacture of Dymkovo toys, Vyatka red clay and river sand are used. Each part of the toy is created separately: a body is molded from a round piece of clay, on which the rest of the toy is attached. Then the product is dried for several days in the open air. Then it is burned on fire. In Russia, a stove was used for this. Today it is a muffle furnace, where the temperature reaches 1000 °C. When the figurine cools down, it is subjected to bleaching. In Russia, milk was also used for this.

The next step is coloring. In ancient times, natural dyes based on eggs, milk, soot, vinegar, and tempera were used for this. Acrylic paints are the most commonly used these days. The tails of birds, the horns of animals, the clothes of people are covered with copper potal (thin foil). The Dymkovo toy is characterized by the use of red, blue, yellow, emerald, light blue, green and orange colors. White and black paint is used in small quantities. Each color that the toy is painted with has its own meaning: white is a symbol of purity; black - lies; green - nature; red - strength, health; blue is the sky.

The patterns used in painting the Dymkovo toy are closely related to folk beliefs, symbols of nature. For example, the sun and moon are a symbol of the origin of life; diamonds - a sign of fertility; waves are a sign of the sky and moisture. The final moment of the painting is the application of gold leaf. At present, the Dymkovo toy is developing, new technologies are emerging, fresh ideas are emerging, but the manufacturing traditions remain unchanged.

Clay Kargopol toys are known throughout Russia and abroad. The name of the product comes from the ancient city of Kargopol, Arkhangelsk province, which in the old days was one of the centers of the Old Believers. It is known that the inhabitants of this city and its environs have long been engaged in pottery, making a traditional toy.

Compared to the brightly colored Dymkovo and Filimonovo toys, the Kargopol toy looks harsh. It is characterized by a multi-figure composition (merry troikas with riders in a sleigh, dancing figures, boat rides, fairy tales, and more). All figurines are slightly squat, with short arms and legs, their torso is elongated, their neck is thick and short, and their head is relatively large. Interestingly, the animals are depicted with thick paws.

The Kargopol toy is characterized by the theme of the village. The heroes of local craftsmen are ordinary Russian people working in the fields, plowmen and sowers who have a rest during the lunch period, women who wash clothes and nurse children. Often masters created not only existing, but also fictional animals. For example, a half-horse, half-man, who is depicted in military uniform with orders; two-headed horse or bird Sirin.

Kargopol craftsmen humanized real animals, that is, they painted clothes, household items, and musical instruments for them. They depicted bears, elks, sheep, horses, cats, dogs, birds. Women were depicted in long sundresses, their hair was braided, beads were drawn around their necks, and a bundle with a baby or a dish of food was placed in their hands. The man was necessarily depicted with a thick beard, in a painted shirt, loose trousers and high boots with a small heel. On the head is a cap or hat to protect from the sun.

Each toy has its own symbolism, hidden meaning. The woman is a symbol of the Earth, fertility, nurse. Bear - a symbol of the owner of the forest, a deer or a ram - a symbol of the sky and the sun. The Kargopol toy was made from a single piece of clay, sometimes additional elements were added. After firing, the figurine was placed in a thick solution of flour. Thanks to the burnt flour, bizarre dark patterns appeared on the surface, which were later covered with paints. This technology gave the figure relief and volume. When painting, the following colors were most popular: red, green, yellow and blue.

The toy was always decorated with a pattern: in the images of people it was an ornament on clothes, and animals were decorated with horns or limbs. The pattern was simple and uncomplicated: wavy lines, geometric shapes and flowers. In addition, images on the toy of the sun, sky, moon, fire, earth and water served as a pattern.

Toys from Pleshkovo are molded from a mixture of clay and mica. After firing the toy, mica inclusions give the product an additional silvery sheen and sparks over the entire surface. Burnt whistles have a porous structure and a pink tint. Craftsmen paint the clay in a free manner and spread the natural paint in patches. Initially, in the manufacture of Pleshkov toys, paint was not used at all, but more modern craftsmen grind brick to fully cover the whistle and mix it with pomace from burdock or hemp. Previously, it was enough to find the required amount of local golden clay and draw 2-3 strips along the figurine.

The name of the toy comes from the village of Pleshkovo, Oryol province. Toys are simple and concise. The main colors of the Pleshkov toy are blue, red, green. When coloring the product, natural dyes were used - elderberry and burdock juice, which were applied to the surface of the figurine in the form of spots. The plots of the Pleshkov toys are different: animals (horses, rams, cows, deer, roosters), birds (ducks), people (soldiers, ladies), fantastic creatures (mermaids, birds - Sirin).

The theme of peasant life was also widespread. For example, a very popular image for a clay figurine is a woman with a baby on her left hand. Among the livestock, cows, roosters, rams, and horses were most often depicted.

In our time, Pleshkov's bells-whistles are created using traditional technology and ancient Russian mythical symbols, for example, mermaids.

Filimonov Russian folk toy

The Filimonovo Russian folk toy also belongs to clay. The toy was made in the village of Filimonovo, Odoevsky district, Tula province. This village is located near deposits of good white clay. According to legend, a certain old man lived in this area. Filimon who made toys. The Filimonovo traditional toy is made in the form of a lady, a peasant woman, a soldier, a dancing couple, as well as in the form of animals, such as cows, rams, foxes, roosters and fantastic forest creatures.

By the middle of the 19th century, the Filimonovsky craft was widely known outside the Tula province. The Russian people loved bright original clay figurines, bought them at fairs and gave them to children. At this time, almost all the inhabitants of the village of Filimonovo lived at the expense of pottery. But at the beginning of the twentieth century, fishing lost its former popularity. People began to look for new ways to earn money, craftsmen began to lose their skills, therefore, the number of craftsmen and craftswomen was significantly reduced. Three women lived in the village, who did not lose the art of modeling and continued to make toys. Production more or less improved in the 1950s, when interest in Filimonov toys began to revive among the people. In the 1980s, the Filimonovo toy regained its former popularity and reached new heights, thanks to a creative group consisting of graduates of the art and industrial lyceum.

Most Filimonovo toys are used as whistles. There are also local features of the image of the toy. For example, a lady is always molded in a long skirt, in the shape of a bell, with a hat on her head. The man is depicted in a uniform with shoulder straps, a peaked cap and boots with a small heel. Animals are depicted with a thin waist and a long graceful neck. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish animals from each other, and only the color of the figurine or certain features helps in this. A horse is sculpted with medium-sized brown ears, a ram with round horns, and a cow with a crescent-shaped horn.

In general, the Filimonovo toy differs from others in its elongated shape and elongated proportions. This is dictated by the peculiarities of the area, since in the Tula region there are rich deposits of oily clay, it is well suited for shaping, however, when dried, it settles and cracks significantly. Masters repeatedly straighten the figure, stretch it, in order to hide uneven contours and cracks.

They paint the Filimonovo toy poorly. The main colors used are yellow, red and green, and sometimes blue and purple. However, the painting takes place in a certain order: initially they write yellow spots, then circle them in red or draw patterns, and then supplement them with green. They start painting with patterns from the center, using a smooth transition to the edges of the product. It should be noted that the patterns are very simple and uncomplicated: stripes, Christmas trees, geometric shapes and stars. When painting the Filimonovo toy, floral ornament prevails: leaves, the sun, branches, berries and flowers.

Russian folk toy made of wood.Bogorodsk toy

Bogorodskaya Russian traditional toy comes from the village of Bogorodskoye, Moscow province. The toy is made of wood, mainly linden. Before making a toy, the linden must dry for two years. Wood chips are used to make toy stands. Bogorodsk toys are rarely painted or painted. The surface of the finished figures in Russia was cleaned with sandpaper. Further, the toys are finished with carvings, which rhythmically lie on the surface and decorate the product. By tradition, some parts of the toy were made movable. Some toys were attached to stands, bedside tables, and a spring was inserted inside - it set the figure in action.

Other toys were made on slats (“Herd”, “Cavalry”, “Soldiers”). There are toys, the moving parts of which are attached to threads with a load; the load sways, pulls the thread along, it sets the parts of the figures in action. The plots of the Bogorodsk toy are diverse - these are the heroes of fairy tales and fables.

Mazyk Russian folk toy

The wooden Mazyk Russian folk toy is very rare. It was made for relatives - children, wives, parents, etc. In Russia, the Mazyk toy was called "Bolvashka", "tararushka", "chip goods". The type of carving that is made for the toy has been preserved among the Mazyks, a part of the offen community, peddlers who lived in the former Vladimir province - hence the name of the product. The plots of the Mazyk toy are diverse: people, animals, birds.

The main feature of the production of toys is the use of only an ax, other tools are used extremely rarely. The toy is made of pine, aspen or linden. Traditionally, it is also made from wood with protruding knots. These knots are used in the product, they can turn into a tail or beak, or they can become fins for a pike.

Russian matryoshka is known and loved all over the world. The city of Sergiev Posad is considered to be the birthplace of the matryoshka, where a wooden lady was first made, from which, when opened, similar female figures of different sizes appeared. The invention of the Russian nesting doll dates back relatively recently - the end of the 19th century. During this period, the famous turner V.P. Zvezdochkin, who was engaged in the manufacture of wooden toys, at the request of the artist S.V. Malyutina I made a blank from wood, in which I put the same drop-down blanks, but different in size.

The subject for painting the very first toy was the daily activities of Russian beauties. Matryoshka consisted of 8 wooden dolls. Later, the number of dolls varied and even reached 48 wooden ladies. Matryoshkas were produced in artels S.I. Mamontova in Sergiev Posad. Russian matryoshka was exhibited at exhibitions in Paris. This amazing toy attracted the attention of foreigners who began to place orders with Russian craftsmen.

Russian nesting doll

Mostly nesting dolls were distributed, which consisted of 3, 8 and 12 dolls. The more dolls there were, the more valuable the matryoshka became. The main plot of nesting dolls was life. Most often they depicted the homework of ladies. The girls were depicted in traditional dresses and always in a headscarf. The girls held in their hands sickles for harvesting, jugs of milk, baskets of berries. Later, other plots began to be depicted on nesting dolls, for example, characters from fairy tales and fables, heroes of stories by famous writers.

Once they tried to change the shape of nesting dolls, for example, there were cone-shaped dolls that were inserted one into the other. But this form was not popular among the people, so the masters returned to the former.

Matryoshkas also differed in painting. Currently, the following types of painting are distinguished:

Zagorsky (bright, saturated colors and many small, clearly traced elements);
Merino (large flowers);
Semenovskie (strict symmetrical painting);
Polkhovskie (image of wild rose flowers);
Vyatka (a northern lady).

For the manufacture of nesting dolls, linden is used, which, after staining, is covered with a transparent oil-based varnish. First, the master grinds the smallest solid figure. Then he makes the bottom of the next figure. After processing, this element dries well, and only then adjusts the upper part of the figure. According to this scheme, all the components of the matryoshka are prepared. Dried parts are necessarily treated with starch glue, which serves as the basis for painting. After the product dries, they start painting nesting dolls.

First, the master draws the face. The head of the matryoshka is depicted covered with a scarf, which is painted in traditional Russian ornaments. From clothes, a sundress is most often depicted, sometimes it is complemented by an apron. The figurine is decorated with floral ornaments. After the paint dries, a finishing layer is applied, which protects the matryoshka from moisture and chips.

Fedoseevskaya Russian folk toy was made in the village of Fedoseevo, Nizhny Novgorod province. At the end of the 19th century, toy business developed everywhere in the Nizhny Novgorod region. A craftsman lived in Fedoseevo Yakov Alexandrovich Alexandrov who made movable toys from chips and boards.

Toys are made with a knife and an ax, using wood chips and planks. Chips and planks are hammered together with carnations and painted with uncomplicated patterns. Initially, toys were painted with a goose quill. Later, they began to dip the entire product in yellow paint, getting a sunny background, and then applied flowers.

The main plot of the Fedoseev toy is horses. Also carved doll furniture, cars, boats, carousels, sledges, planes, trams, multi-storey steamers. By the 1930s, Fedoseev toys began to be produced on an industrial basis in the city of Semenov. In 1948, the Fedoseev toy artel was attached to the Semenov cooperative.

The main colors of the Fedoseev toy are yellow and red. In the 1950s, fishing began to lose its former popularity. Master is currently N. S. Muravyov revives the toy industry.

The bird of happiness is a toy made of wood using a special technique. It comes from the Arkhangelsk province. Initially, the toy was called "Pomeranian dove". In the middle of the 20th century, the art of making this toy was practically lost. The master began to revive the craft Martyn Filippovich Fatyanov from the village of Selishche, Leshukonsky district, Arkhangelsk region. The bird of happiness was usually hung from the ceiling in the front corner of the village front room, where there was a table with benches. When a boiling samovar was placed on the table, the carved bird, obeying the currents of hot air, slowly and solemnly began to rotate around the axis.

Famous ethnographer S.V. Maksimov reports that in the 19th century, a chipped bird suspended from the ceiling was an obligatory attribute of a Pomeranian house. He mentions that Pomeranian Old Believers made such doves in their hermitages, as well as Murmansk industrialists:

Here are the same doves made of splinters - the leisure of skilled wanderers, attached to the ceiling for decoration.

MM. Prishvin in his story "According to Maimaksa" he mentions a bird, describing an old Pomor man:

And then I'll take a picture of him, and he will hang a portrait in a "clean" room over a table with a clean tablecloth. Saints Zosima and Savvaty will look at him from the corner, and from the ceiling - a little dove carved from wood and painted in blue paint - sort of like the Holy Spirit.

From the above quotation it follows that such a dove was personified with the Holy Spirit. But these are not folk symbols either, since in the Gospel the dove personifies the Holy Spirit. In the 1920s, the ethnographer Nina Hagen-Thorn in the story "The Way to the North" mentions a bird:

I stopped in amazement, the wide window shone with an azure casing. Behind him shone silver ocean distances, and against their background swayed a carved boat hung on a rope to the window frame. It was so skillfully carved and rigged that it seemed to have floated here from the ocean, miraculously not growing, and hung on the window. Birds cut from thin shavings swayed on its sides on the same strings. One, spreading a multi-colored tail, turned her head to the sea; the other, with a girlish face and a high crown, looked into the room, bright blue wings folded across her chest.

Birds of happiness were made from two solid bars, chips, without the use of glue and fasteners. The opposite ends of one bar are thinly cut lengthwise. The very tips are cut out figured. On the second bar, a bird's head is cut out from one end, and longitudinal cuts for the tail from the other. Cutouts are made in the middle of each of the two bars for subsequent connection. They join together to form a cross. The ends of the chips are split in a special way, like a fan. The result is wings and a tail. Chip feathers are sometimes fastened with threads.

The bird is usually made from Karelian pine, spruce, fir or Siberian cedar. Initially, the product is light, but over time, the wood acquires a golden hue. In the old days in Russia, it was not customary to paint doves. These days, even painted birds have become popular.

Clay is a wonderful natural material that is ideal for children's creativity. Every child sincerely rejoices when a bright colorful toy is born from a small gray lump. Give your children a master class on painting clay toys, and you will leave them with an unforgettable holiday experience.

Who is the Masterclass for?

The master class on painting clay toys is suitable for children of all ages. This is not only fun, but also useful. Modeling develops spatial thinking in a child, teaches him visual literacy, and painting helps to feel the wide possibilities of color play.

You can order a master class on painting clay toys:

for birthday,
holiday at school or kindergarten,
New Year or Christmas
graduation or creative class hour.

How is the master class?

During the master class, our experienced craftsmen:

Tell the children about the types of painting clay toys;
Demonstrate bright ready-made examples of work;
Reveal the secrets of painting clay toys;
They will tell you how to use paints correctly;
They will control the work process and help everyone create their own original painted toy.

You can not worry about the course of the event, because we have taken care of everything for you! The cost of the master class on painting toys includes:

clay toys,
paints and other consumables,
all the necessary fixtures,
disposable gloves and aprons.

You are only required to provide a spacious place for participants to accommodate, the required number of chairs and tables and free access to water. Each of the guys will leave the holiday with a good practical experience in creating their own toys, vivid impressions and an excellent souvenir.

5 reasons to order this master class

Russian folk toy is distinguished by figurativeness, colorfulness and originality. Due to their concise content, they are characterized by accessibility for children's perception. Made of natural materials (clay, wood, ceramics, straw), they represent various fairy-tale characters, figurines and images of people and animals.

Each nationality living in a certain region of our country, for many centuries, created and passed on from generation to generation unique traditions of creating a folk toy that is distinguished by originality, originality and combines the national characteristics of each individual region of Russia. It is by the toy that you can determine in which particular area it was made. Where there were rich deposits of clay, amazing clay figurines of animals and people were created, in regions rich in wood, craftsmen made toys from wood.

The main toys of Russian folk craft:

Abashevskaya clay toy

A toy made of clay is named after its historical homeland - the village of Abashev, Penza province, which was famous for its pottery and, along with pottery, traded clay toys that were in great demand. Most of the population were Old Believers, so their beliefs were reflected in whistle toys, the visiting card of the Abashev toy is a deer figurine with huge horns, as if resting on the sky, which was considered a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Most of the toys were figurines of animals, which were symbols of various aspects of human life among the ancient Slavs: birds symbolized happiness and good luck, horses - the sun, bears - strength, power and authority, rams and cows - fertility. A distinctive feature of this toy is an elongated body shape, short, widely spaced legs, very long, thick necks and a small head, well-defined facial features and hairstyles of people.

Dymkovo clay toy

The toy bears the name of the Dymkovo settlement of the same name, which is located near the city of Kirov. Everyone is well aware of the colorful, magnificently decorated and painted figurines of young dolls, goats, cockerels with bright, magnificent tails, horses, piglets, bears and whistle ducks. In the village of Dymkovo, there were entire families of craftsmen who dug clay, mixed it with sand, thoroughly kneaded it, sculpted figurines, burned them in Russian ovens, and then painted them by hand with bright colors, and both women and children took part in the manufacturing process. The Dymkovo toy is distinguished by its special specificity, it is static, has magnificent shapes and bright colors, has a special cheerful energy and subtle humor that attracts the attention of children who love to look at them and listen to entertaining stories about their creation.

Bogorodsk wooden toy

The toy was created by the talented hands of craftsmen from the village of Bogorodsky, Moscow Region, these are playful, intricate and agile figurines of chickens skillfully carved from wood, which enthusiastically peck grains, bears beating the anvil, various plot and genre compositions. The main material for toys is carefully dried linden and its waste in the form of chips, most often products from it were not painted. The expressive texture of wood allowed craftsmen to combine in toys both a smooth surface and small notches and cuts that convey some subtleties and nuances of various details. Children like not only to look at them, but also to set in motion the mechanical springs hidden inside them, forcing the brave soldiers to march, and the good-natured bear to do hard physical labor.

Filimonovo clay toy

In the Tula region, in the village of Filimonovo, amazing clay toys were made, which received the same name Filimonovo. There were deposits of plastic and high-quality white clay, from which, according to legend, the local old-timer grandfather Filimon sculpted his funny, bizarre and unlike other whistle figurines of animals and people. Toys are distinguished by a special shape: short legs, elongated bodies and long necks with a small head, traditional plots - ladies and soldiers, various compositions (tea parties, flirting, troika), rams and cockerels, cows and horses, and sometimes even absolutely fantastic creatures, which are difficult to attribute to any existing species. These toys are painted with bright, juicy colors, among which crimson, bright yellow, green, orange, blue and white predominate, they were often applied in stripes in various combinations, and the face was always pure white with barely outlined contours of the eyes and lips.

A small town near Arkhangelsk called Kargapol gave its name to the famous Kargapol toys, which were made here by talented masters of pottery from baked clay, depicting various figures of animals and people. They differ in some severity of images, due to the use of exclusively natural dyes (soot, chalk, lime, varieties of colored clay, various minerals) in dark, saturated colors: brown, beige, dark green and even black. These toys were figurines of fairy-tale heroes, birds, dogs, bears, squat peasants with a spade-beard or large women with newborns in their arms.

Pleshkov toy-whistle

Another famous Russian craft that originated in the village of Pleshkovo, Oryol province, is Pleshkov toys. These are various clay whistles made from local deposits of clay, which acquired an interesting pinkish hue during firing. The toys were distinguished by simplicity and conciseness, painted in blue, red and green colors of natural origin (elder and burdock juice, broken bricks), which were applied to the surface in the form of randomly scattered spots. These were figures of various animals (horses, rams, cows, deer, roosters, ducks), people (soldiers, mistresses), and fantastic creatures (mermaids, Sirin birds). A typical image of a Pleshkov toy is a figurine of a woman holding a baby with her left hand.

Clay toys have been part of the crafts and life of the people for many centuries. In Russia, they were very popular among both the rich and the poor. Their production has always belonged to the traditional field of folk art, embodying the work of masters, beauty, demonstrating history and way of life.

ancient clay crafts

Archaeologists constantly find clay products in the form of dishes and toys during excavations of ancient cities and burial places. Their production has never been the main craft for potters, but most likely took place in between work on household items, for fun or for their children. Later, clay toys became the subject of sale and were made specially in preparation for the fairs.

The most ancient such crafts were found on the island of Crete, in Egypt, among the Aztec Indians. These were figurines of bulls, carts with round wheels (which in reality these tribes did not use), ceramic dolls with moving articulated arms, clay gods and idols.

History of Russian clay toys

The first such figurines found in Russia date back to the 2nd millennium BC, the Bronze Age. These are small copies of dishes, clay axes, rattles, whistles in the form of animals. The process of their manufacture consisted of molding and firing, often the ancient masters decorated the figurines with painting or glaze.

The production of clay whistles and toys reached its peak in the 17th-18th centuries. Wealthy families could order more expensive items. It is known that Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Empress Catherine the First bought toys for the royal family at the Moscow at the Market fair, which is recorded in the book of expenses. These were figurines of cows, deer, rams, swans, roosters, ducks, children, and even a whole city with soldiers.

In the 18-19th centuries. clay painted toys have already become available and were in great demand among the common people. It was then that the centers for the production of such products that have come down to our time were formed in Dymkovo, Abashevo, Kargopol, Filimonovo, Skopin, etc.

The production of clay toys in Russia is closely connected with other artistic crafts: pottery, carving and painting of wood, stone and metal products, with the art of embroidery and lace making. They use general pictorial principles and techniques for constructing decorative finishes, artistic motifs.

Mythological and folklore significance

Folk clay toys in Russia have both mythological and folklore-musical significance. Most popular products, including whistles and rattles (rattles), are sound. They have been used for a long time when performing ritual actions, during public holidays: at first pagan, later Christian.

So, each animal figurine is a symbol and carries a certain meaning:

ram and cow - successful housekeeping, fertility;
birds are the personification of the souls of ancestors, symbolize happiness and joy;
since ancient times, the horse has been considered the main amulet;
the bear symbolizes power and strength;
deer - a charm that brings abundance;
the goat is a symbol of good power.

Ancient clay toys were used not only for children's entertainment, but also as ritual works. Whistles were used during an ancient rite to expel evil forces and diseases during a pagan holiday called Whistle Dance. As a decorative home decoration, clay figurines were often placed in windows, in prominent places on a chest of drawers, or on shelves in a room.

Difference of toys by regions of Russia

All regional features of toys in Russia are inimitable and unique: the Dymkovo toy cannot be confused with the Kargopol or Filimonovo toy. Each master had his own style of modeling, extraordinary style, original shapes, colors and decorations of products.

Also, toys differ in the composition of the clay from which they are molded: figurines are best molded from oily clay. Each variety of such products has its own traditional shapes and colors, which often depend on the type of clay used in the area and its plastic properties.

Such products allow you to look into the distant past of our grandparents, into the history of Russian culture and your own childhood. Peasant village toys captivate with their handiwork, sympathy, illustrating paternal guardianship and affectionate maternal care. Skillful hands and good taste of the toy master are the property of this craft, contribute to the mutual development and enrichment of the language and expressive presentation, preserve the experience and achievements of previous generations.

Dymkovo clay toys

The folk craft of Dymkovo painting of dishes and toys originated in the 15th century in the settlement of Dymkovo near the city of Vyatka, from where the name came from. All figurines and paintings are made only by hand, and therefore are unique. Previously, clay figurines were painted with a mixture of dry aniline paints with egg, vinegar or sour kvass.

The main forms of the Dymkovo toy are pottery, hollow inside, depicting young ladies and gentlemen, horses and bears, roosters and turkeys and other animals. The finished clay figure was first covered with a mixture of milk and chalk, and then painted on top. The main elements of the painting: geometric shapes, zigzags, stripes and circles, wavy lines, dots, spots, cells.

When applying patterns, bright contrasting colors were used: green, red, blue, yellow, light blue, crimson, black and white, as well as gilding. In each figurine, about 10 colors were usually used without halftones and shades.

Modern masters of the Dymkovo clay toy use gouache with an egg for coloring, and at the factory they do the painting with tempera paints.

According to tradition, each era can be identified by a certain ornament, each of which symbolizes something:

blue wavy stripes - water;
crossed stripes - a well;
a circle with an asterisk inside - the sun and other celestial bodies, etc.

The Dymkovo Vyatka toy has been considered a folk sculpture for many years, and each work is an author's one, made by a master of hand modeling and painting, presented in a single copy. Its trademark is bright colors and elegance, which are complemented by pieces of gold leaf, which always makes a festive impression.

The name comes from the location of the city of Kargopol and adjacent villages in the Arkhangelsk region. The art of clay handicrafts in this region was almost lost, and only a few samples survived, thanks to U. Babkina. She became an associate who was able to revive the disappeared kind of craft.

The difference between the Kargopol clay toys lies in its archaic appearance, which is well recognizable by style, painting and type.

ancient solitary animals and people: Polkan (a man with the body of a horse), Bereginya (holding pigeons in her hands), a mother woman as the personification of the life-giving power of the earth and the sun, her favorite image is the figure of “Bobka”;
plot multi-figure compositions that demonstrate the rural lifestyle or fairy tales: “The girl is washing”, “Fishermen”, “Three horses”, etc.

The Kargopol toy is a whitewashed clay figurine, which is painted in various colors with a simple painting, there are very few details.

Basic ornaments: geometric shapes, strokes, stripes, dots, oblique crosses. Colors: black, green, ocher, brown, brick red and blue, silver and gold are rarely added.

Filimonov toy

The craft of clay toys appeared in the middle of the 16th century. in the Tula region in the Odoevsky district, where local potters were engaged in the manufacture of dishes, chimneys and household utensils. For production, local clay was used, which after firing became light terracotta. While the men worked on the serious work, the women and children sculpted the toys using the plastic "sinik" clay, which then turned white. The last craftswomen who were able to restore this production lived in the village of Filimonovo, for which the name was given to it.

In the 20th century this production continued, supplemented not only by single figurines of people and animals, but also by multi-figured compositions, which were successfully bought by homeowners for admiration and collectors.

people: ladies, soldiers, horsemen, accordionist, etc.;
animals: dog, cat, fox, deer, horse, cow;
birds: peacock, rooster, chicken and duck;
compositions (more than 50 in total): troika, tea party, carousel, George with a snake, on a bench, etc.

Stylistic features include: elongated proportions (long necks) and a 3-color ornament depicting geometric shapes. The painting is done with aniline paints on varnish. The ornament is dominated by red and green stripes, the sun, Christmas trees, lattices, which are applied on a white or yellow background.

Abashevskaya toy

The name comes from the village of Abashevo, which in the 19-20th centuries. became one of the leading centers of pottery in Russia. Most of its inhabitants were Old Believers, which influenced the religious motives in the products of the craftsmen who made the "Dudki". One of the popular motifs is a deer with golden horns in the shape of a ladder, which in mythology means "the path to God." A distinctive feature of such crafts is the satirical nature of some products, their plastic expressiveness, a departure from naturalism. The main motives: pets, foolish ladies, a policeman, an officer, etc.

Artistic craft and the manufacture of clay toys arose in the Spassky district of the Penza region in the middle of the 19th century. based on pottery. Initially, all the dishes were black, but then the Abashev craftsmen learned to cover them with green glaze. Toys were made in 12 households by handicraftsmen, each of which not only followed historical patterns, but also invented their own original works: whistles in the form of birds and animals, as well as figures of young ladies, horsemen, dolls, etc.

Starting from the 1930s, the products were painted with oil paints, bronze and silver spots were applied on top. Special sculptural techniques make it possible to give images of animals a fabulous look.

Ceramics Skopin

The craft of ceramic and clay products in the form of sculptures and toys has existed in the town of Skopin, Ryazan Region, since the 19th century, due to the close occurrence of clay in the vicinity. Decorative and household utensils, the so-called bruises, have been made here since the time of Kievan Rus. The shapes of clay figurines are simple: they are characters from Russian fairy tales, dragons, the Osprey bird.

For painting clay toys, colored (yellow, green) glaze is used, as well as scalding from several compositions, which make it possible to obtain colors from light beige to brown-red. The technique of obtaining a gray-smoky color or "smoke" is used.

Khludnev toy

Pottery has existed in the village of Khludnevo, Kaluga region, since the 16th century. Since ancient times, local clays have been used to make dishes, from which women sculpted whistles, rumblers, horns and various figures.

The main plot of the Khludnev clay toy is the tree of life, which it makes as a talisman. His various compositions with animals, birds and people are filled with a certain meaning. Old craftswomen also came up with the idea of combining 2 or more plots in one figure at once, adding humor and fun. Such "shifters", a kind of puzzles, are divided into several types depending on whether it is necessary to turn the toy in order to see its second meaning.

Another original find among the Khludnevsky figurines is a “wet nightingale” in the form of a small pot with a whistle, from which the sound of a nightingale can be obtained only by pouring water. Modern craftswomen still live in the village and make toys by hand in accordance with all traditions and national style.

Romanov toy

The history of making such pottery crafts originates from the village of Romanovo-Gorodishche in the Lipetsk region, where the peasants moved together with the Romanov boyars. A variety of local clays are used to produce white, black, red and yellow tableware. To sculpt the whistles, the craftsmen used only black clay, the most durable and soft. Whistles are made with 2, 4 or more holes to produce different sounds.

In the people such toys are called "romanushki". The main color is yellow, which makes it possible to add lightness to the clay handicraft, and elegant decor in the form of moldings, notches, engraving and painting in 2-3 colors allows you to balance the roundness of the volumes and the heaviness of the material.

The plots of the Romanov toy are very diverse: a flying lark, a racing troika, riders on horseback, bears, sleigh rides, domestic animals, etc., about 40 in total. The main characters are a lady and an officer. Traditional colors: red, green, yellow, as well as black, blue and crimson.

All of the listed types of Russian clay toys have been popular among the people for more than one century. The simple forms of whistles and handicrafts reflect the experience of many generations of artisans and artists. The fairy-tale world of clay toys is a vivid manifestation of folk art that deserves attention. Even modern items made according to traditional themes help to trace the history, development and regional style features of such works of art.

Folk clay toy

Folk clay toy is one of the components of the sculptural image. When working with folk clay toys, children acquire skills that they use when creating other types of stucco work, which makes the products more expressive both in design and design. The expressiveness of children's modeling depends not only on how the child managed to convey the shape and proportions of the toy, but also on how he managed to decorate his work or fashion the corresponding design elements of the figure.

The folk toy opens up great opportunities for teaching composition to children. It is varied in style. The ability to sculpt toys in different styles is possible only if the child fully understands the differences in the image of the form and decorative ornaments. To do this, it is necessary to acquaint children more often with toys of various crafts, with their features, both sculptural and ornamental.

By showing the children a toy, the teacher can direct the children's attention to revealing the image in terms of its expressiveness. For example, offering to sculpt a doll with a yoke - “Water-carrier”, the teacher tells what the figure depicts, asks the children if they saw how they carry water on the yokes, then draws their attention to the plasticity of the form, analyzes the details of clothing, the position of hands, buckets, which amusingly sway on the yokes.

Almost all folk toys are uniform in the way they are depicted. This must be taken into account when working with children. So, goats, horses, sheep, deer and bears are depicted in one way: the body and legs are made from one piece. Birds are depicted in the same way. Therefore, modeling techniques are shown only when children first sculpt an object. The use of folk toys in the process of modeling can lead to the same type of work not only in the way of representation, but also in form. Therefore, toys should be selected in such a way that each character is presented in different versions. This will provide an opportunity to show children the variety of shapes, proportions, paintings and ways of depicting toys. It must also be remembered that folk toys are used only in the process of introducing children to the surrounding life.

Classes using folk art items help develop the mental activity of a small child. However, this is possible only if a planned, systematic introduction of children to the objects of folk art is carried out, as a result of which the children create their own decorative works.

In Russia, there are several centers for the manufacture of traditional clay toys, and each of them has its own characteristics in modeling and painting. The most famous are: Dymkovo, Filimonovo, Kargopol and Kalinin toys.

Dymkovo toys.

Products of the Kirov craftsmen surprise with their plastic form, special proportions, unusual pattern in terms of brightness. Everyone likes the lively, festive, magnificent in stucco decoration and painting dolls of the lady-francihi, goats, horses, roosters with painted tails. The industry originated in the distant past. The earliest description of Dymkovo toys dates back to 1811. Its author is Nikolai Zakharovich Khitrovo. The description tells about the Vyatka folk holiday - "Svistoplyask" (later it was called the whistler), during which painted clay dolls with a gilded pattern were sold.

Before the revolution, craftsmen worked in the village of Dymkovo alone and with their families. They dug clay, mixed it with sand, kneaded it first with their feet and then with their hands. The items were fired in Russian kilns and then painted. Women and children took part in this work. The factory where Dymkovo toys are now made is located in the city of Kirov. Everyone knows the names of the famous masters of the Dymkovo toy. This is A.A. Mazurina, E.3. Koshkina, 3.V. Penkin. The process of making a toy can be divided into two stages: modeling the product and painting it. Before each craftswoman are the materials she needs at the moment. When sculpting, clay in a plastic bag lies on the tables. The clay is local, Kirov, very pleasant to work with due to its stucco qualities. Craftswomen say: "Our clay is like butter." In addition to clay, there is a basin with water, rags for smoothing the surface of the product and stacks on the table. In the event that the craftswomen are engaged in painting, there are paints, brushes on the tables in cups, and there are already burned and primed toys nearby.

Depicting a doll, the craftswomen first make a skirt from a layer of clay, as a result of which a hollow bell-shaped shape is obtained; the head, neck and upper body are made from one piece, and the details of clothing: ruffles, frills, cuffs, hats, etc., are molded separately and glued to the main form, calling them moldings. The craftswomen apply patterns on the white surface of the product so deftly and confidently that you do not have time to follow their hands.

Dymkovo toy is very specific. There are traditions in the creation of its form and in its design, which are expressed, first of all, in static, pomp of forms and brightness of color. For example, in the composition "Mother with Children" the figure of a woman looks straight ahead, she seemed to freeze in this position. If you look closely at other toys depicting goats, roosters, bears, then this static quality is felt in them too.

The craftswomen strictly preserve and support the traditions established by the previous masters, but each has its own peculiarities in work. Some dolls are tall, stately, while others are a little smaller in size, wider in the shoulders. The curls of the ladies-franks fit differently, the turn of the head in animals is different. Products differ in color. Some masters work in warm colors: they are dominated by ocher, red and orange colors; others - in cold - blue and blue. Some products are decorated with a dense network of ornaments, while others are covered with a pattern.

All products of Dymkovo masters are distinguished by cheerfulness and subtle humor (for example, “The Scene at the Well” or “Discharged Dolls Go to the Bazaar”), which especially attracts the attention of children: they like to look at toys, listen to the teacher’s stories about where and how they are made.

Filimonov toys.

No less famous folk craft is the village of Filimonovo, Odoyevsky district, Tula region, where they make an amazing clay toy. The village is located near deposits of good white clay. Perhaps this determined her craft (the legend says that grandfather Filimon lived in these places, he made toys). Animals and animals made by artists differ in form and painting. The toys are funny, whimsical and at the same time simple in execution and very expressive. The plots of the Filimonovo toy are traditional - these are peasant ladies, soldiers with epaulettes, dancing couples, horse riders; of animals - cows, rams, with tightly twisted horns, a fox with a rooster and mysterious creatures, the prototype of which is difficult to determine.

All toys have elastic bodies, long or short legs, elongated necks with small heads. These toys are difficult to confuse with any others, as they have their own traditions in the interpretation of form and painting. For example, the ladies have high bell-shaped skirts with an inconspicuous expansion downwards, the upper part of the body seems smaller in comparison with the skirt. The small head ends in a tall elegant hat. Funny toys depicting long-legged and elongated soldiers in characteristic costumes: a jacket in the waist and striped pants, which the toys surprise with their imagination. So, among the toys there is a monster with a deer's head. He has a chicken in his hands, a turkey on his back, and a chicken on his tail. Animal toys are molded with special plastic. Sheep, cows and horses have small heads on elongated necks, and short legs give special stability to all figures.

All toys are very funny and when there are a lot of them, it's a holiday. The painting is bright, and mostly yellow, red, orange, green, blue and white colors prevail. One can only wonder how, by combining simple elements (stripes, arcs, dots, intersecting lines forming stars), craftswomen create amazing ornaments that fit beautifully on the skirts and aprons of the figurines. The painting of toys is traditional: horses, cows, rams are painted with stripes, and figures of people are painted using all the elements in various combinations. The faces of the figurines always remain white, and only small strokes outline the eyes, mouth, and nose.

A small child, first of all, sees in the Filimolovo toy fun, fantastic images of the subject, which awaken his creativity. And where an adult thinks about the definition of the content of a toy, everything is clear to a child. He is not embarrassed by either the colorful coloring or the fantasy of the craftswomen regarding the conditional interpretation of the image. Filimonov toys, as a rule, are whistles and are designed for the child to play with them.

Kargopol toys.

An interesting toy is Kargopol. Kargopol is an ancient Russian city surrounded by forest. Since ancient times, the inhabitants of this city and its environs have been engaged in pottery. for the most part they made pottery, pots, krinki, bowls for sour cream. Some craftsmen made clay toys.

Studies have shown that the modern Kargopol toy arose on the basis of the domestic peasant pottery that existed in the 19th century in the village of Grinevo, located near Kargopol.

However, in 1930. arts and crafts fell into disrepair. Only the talented craftswoman U. I. Babkina continued to make toys. It is her products that are characterized by the best features of folk toys. In 1967 Kargopol workshops for the manufacture of clay painted toys were created. Among them, a large place is occupied by semi-fantastic images associated with folk pagan holidays, accompanied by music, dancing, and mummers. Whistle toys were an integral part of the holidays.

Next to the bright, resonant colors of Dymkovo and Filimonovo toys, the plastic figurines of this northern region may seem harsh. Images of people are given with a psychological characteristic, so the viewer can imagine the life and way of life of local residents. In the toy, we see a reflection of the village theme: peasant women with baskets or a bird in the hands of dolls with spinning wheels, bearded men during work or leisure. The Kargopol toy is also characterized by multi-figure compositions - cheerful troikas with riders in a sleigh, dancing figures, boat rides and many other scenes accurately noticed by the masters. The image of the clothes of the characters is characteristic: women in jackets and skirts, and sometimes in dresses, a scarf or hat on their heads, men in caftans. Basically, the plots are dynamic, taken from life. Kargopol masters also like to depict animals: a bear, a hare, a horse, a dog, a pig, a goose and a duck. Among the toys of this craft, one can also find those whose prototypes are associated with legends, for example. Polkan is a half-animal, half-human, two-headed horses and deer. In the assortment of modern Kargopol toys there are plots on the themes of folk tales: “The wolf and the seven kids”, “The cat, the rooster and the fox”, etc.

The Kargopol toy is characterized by conventionality in the interpretation of the image in terms of shape, proportions and color. All figurines are somewhat squat, with short arms and legs, an elongated torso, a thick and short neck, and a relatively large head. Figures depicting men are always with a full beard, which is made by pulling clay from the total volume of the head. The female figurines have low bell skirts, which can give the impression of being squat. But since the waists of the dolls are elongated, this balances the figure, making it slim and monolithic.

Kargopol masters depict animals as thick-legged and sometimes dynamic, for example, a bear stands on its hind legs - the moment of an attack; the dog's paws are spread and the mouth is open; duck with outstretched wings and outstretched neck, ready to fly. As for the painting, it is severe and restrained in its coloring. However, now masters bring yellow, blue and orange colors to revitalize toys. Buttons, beads, bird beaks are painted with them, clothes are shaded. The main elements of the ornament are combinations of intersecting lines, circles, twigs without leaves, Christmas trees, dots and stripes.

Sculpt toys in parts. The basis of the figurine is the torso, which, together with the head, is attached to a pre-sculpted skirt. To depict male figures, legs and arms are attached to the body in the form of rollers. The joints of the parts are carefully smoothed out, the figures acquire plasticity. Modeled products are dried for one to two weeks and fired in a kiln.

Both in form and color, a modern toy is made more carefully, it has become more beautiful, brighter. But at the same time, her naivety was lost, which was the main charm of the samples of the old masters.

Among the masters who have brought the traditions of the old toy to our time, the most famous are U.I. Babkin and I.V. Druzhinin. Now hereditary craftsmen K.P. Sheveleva, A.P. Shevelev, S.E. Druzhinin. However, the images are based on old folk traditions.

Kalinin toys.

Craftsmen decorate the toy with moldings that are well associated with its basic form. The bright enamel pattern beautifully complements the figurines, laying down on a brown background, since the product is not primed and the background is the color of baked clay. Basically, the toy is static, but there are swan birds with sharply turned necks and heads, which gives them a special plasticity. Among the toys there are roosters, chickens, geese, swans, ducks with ducklings.

This initial activity brings children to the understanding that the work done can be decorated, it will become more interesting and beautiful. With age, children's acquaintance with folk art expands, and therefore the tasks of decorating objects become more complex. Children begin to sculpt and decorate dishes, dolls, and animals like folk toys with ornaments. Gradually, they learn to select and combine decorative elements, make a pattern out of them, place it first on a flat, and then on a three-dimensional object. All this, in turn, develops in children the need to create beautiful products, develops their artistic taste. Each locality created its own clay toys. The toys differed in the features of modeling and painting.

Thus, folk toys, with their rich themes, influence the child's intention during modeling, enrich the idea of the world around them. In addition, the possibilities of children in plot modeling are expanding. Folk clay toys should be studied, taking into account the age characteristics of children.

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