Vintage, 3 Piece Taurus Bulba Nesting Doll Set - See Description

USD 65.00

Condition: Used

View on eBay

Description

View Vintage, 3 Piece Taurus Bulba Nesting Doll Set - See Description with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. This matryoshka (nesting doll) portrays the titular character from Nikolai Gogol’s famous 1835 romanticized historical novella,Taras Bulba. Taras Bulba: Depicted as an aging, battle-hardened Zaporozhian Cossack colonel. This nesting doll has been in my collection since 1990. This matryoshka (nesting doll) portrays the titular character from Nikolai Gogol’s famous 1835 romanticized historical novella, Taras Bulba . Character & Iconography Taras Bulba: Depicted as an aging, battle-hardened Zaporozhian Cossack colonel. Traditional Cossack Elements: He sports a shaved head with a classic oseledets (long forelock/topknot), sweeping drooping walrus moustaches, an ornate Orthodox cross around his neck, and a decorative red caftan (zhupan) secured with a broad sash. Weaponry : He is armed with an authentic flintlock pistol tucked into his belt and holds a flintlock musket with intricate silver-inlay filigree work. Art Style & Origin Literary/Historical Theme: Unlike mass-produced folk-pattern matryoshkas, this is an artist-painted thematic set illustrating Russian and Ukrainian classic literature. Lacquer Miniature Influence: The fine shading, metallic filigree highlights, rich gloss lacquer finish, and warm, expressive facial painting reflect techniques borrowed from traditional lacquer miniature traditions (such as Palekh or Fedoskino). Contents Inside: This set based on Taras Bulba includes his two sons— Ostap (the steadfast elder warrior) and Andriy (the romantic younger son). The artist’s monogram (personal cipher or signature ligature) . In high-end Russian nesting dolls and lacquer miniature art, individual painters frequently sign their work using a stylized monogram rather than writing out a full surname. Key Details Composition : The symbol is an interlocking ligature of Cyrillic initials. The central upright stroke forms a peaked "А" (or "Л" ), combined on the right with horizontal tiers resembling "Б" , "В" , or "Е" , and finished with a curved flourish or letter (such as "С" or "Я" ) on the left. Significance : This mark confirms the set is an authentic "author’s work" ( авторская работа ) —individually hand-painted by a single artisan rather than stenciled on a factory production line. Having an identifiable artist mark directly supports the higher end of its collectible value. The handwriting in Russian on the bottom of this nesting doll translates as follows: The text on the three pieces translates to: Left (Largest doll): «Тарас Бульба» — Taras Bulba (stylized around a saber/sword) «Н. В. Гоголь» — N. V. Gogol (the author) Center (Middle doll): «Остап» — Ostap (the elder son) Right (Smallest doll): «Андрій» — Andriy (the younger son) Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Decorative Collectibles › Sculptures & Figurines.