Matryoshka madness: 75 extraordinary nesting dolls

(image credit: James Jordan)

A Matryoshka, or Russian nesting doll, is a set of dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside the other. Matryoshka comes from the Latin word mater, meaning mother. Matryoshka dolls have come to be closely associated with motherhood and to symbolize fertility.

Although Matryoska dolls have been around for centuries, they have been popping up everywhere lately with all sorts of new and surprising designs.


Being John Malkovitch
(image credit: Darwin Bell)


Fatimushkaa
(image credit: polpolina)


by Vanessa Chung
(image credit: Vanessa Chung)


Matryoshkus Blanco
(image credit: Art Lebedev)


Matryoshkus Nero
(image credit: Art Lebedev)


Romantic Matryoshka by Koroleva
(image via: REDSPECTIVE)


by Jen Sbragia
(image via: the wurst gallery)


Pantone Matryoshka
(image credit: Yar Rassadin)


Ninja Matryoshka
(image via: ThisNext)


30 piece Russian Fairytales Dolls
(image via: The Russian Store)


by Martin Ontiveros
(image via: the wurst gallery)


by Incubus Project
(image via: REDSPECTIVE)


Mexican Dia De Los Muertos Nesting Doll
(via: Datamancer)


by Dave Van Den Bruel
(image via: 250 Matryoshkas)


by Aaron Renier
(image via: the wurst gallery)


by Heather C
(image credit: hownowdesign)


by Fawn Gehwiler
(image via: the wurst gallery)


by David M
(image credit: hownowdesign)


Matryoshka 7 Piece by Roland Brückner
(image via: REDSPECTIVE)


by Joe@glossy.tv
(image via: 250 Matryoshkas)


by Andy P
(image credit: hownowdesign)


100 Acre Nesting Dolls
(image credit: kcameron87)


by Saiman Chow
(image via: the wurst gallery)


Plumsie Knickers
(etsy shop: belleslettres)


French Toast Recipe
(etsy shop: Trish Grantham)


Former Presidents
(image credit: *Rachel*A*)


Safari Nesting Containers
(etsy shop: Handmade for Children)


Neon Genesis Evangelion
(image credit: Lampbane)


Cat Matryoshka
(image credit: ll_browneyes_ll)


by Bill Hewitt
(via: Lickyourelbow)


Horror Matryoshka line up
(image credit: ClarissaWAM)


designed by Nina Donis for Vogue Russia
(image via: Vogue)


Panda Russian Doll
(image credit: Swansea Photographer)


Custom set of nesting dolls
(image via: auto)


designed by Yves Saint Laurent for Vogue Russia
(image via: Vogue)


by The Pub Agency
(image via: 250 Matryoshkas)


Erotic Russian Dolls
(image via: Bryan Rawlings Design)


designed by Roberto Cavalli for Vogue Russia
(image via: Vogue)


Sworn Enemies
(image credit: ▲Bonard▼)


Soccer - Brazil
(image via: RussianLegacy.com)


Football
(image credit: ESwift)


by Tok
(image via: 250 Matryoskas)


Owls
(image credit: hirotomo)


Firefighter
(image via: BESTGIFTexpress.com)


Charlie Chaplin
(image via: RussianLegacy.com)


Batbooshka
(image credit: polpolina)


SheffieldFayre
(image credit: incurable_hippie)


The White Stripes
(image credit: faithmonsoon)


Hand Painted Wooden Nesting Dolls
(etsy shop: Faith Grows)


The Beatles
(image via: National Museums Liverpool Blog)


The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
(image via: RussianLegacy.com)


Bride and groom
(etsy shop: Colorfuldesigns Art Studio)


Gigantic Turnip Russian Nesting Doll
(via: Amazon)


Rooster Nesting Egg
(image via: BESTGIFTexpress.com)


Star Wars Chubbies
(via: Amazon)


Star Wars
(image via: Geek Crafts)


Star Wars Chubbies - Stormtroopers
(image via: Entertainment Earth)


Frog Prince
(image via: BESTGIFTexpress.com)


Alice in Wonderland
(etsy shop: Fireapple)


Kiss
(image via: Tom McMahon)


Caricature dolls
(image via: My Dollhouse Store)


Ninja Nesting Dolls
(etsy shop: mooshoopork)


Emperor Penguin Doll
(via: BESTGIFTexpress.com)


Seven Dwarfs
(image via: MoscowStore)


The Russians
(etsy shop: C.Gregori)


Jerusalem
(image via: ahuva.com)


Nesting Evil Clowns
(image via: dastardly.com)


Teddy Bears
(etsy shop: Colorfuldesigns Art Studio)


Snow people
(image credit: futuristicky)


Frogs
(via: Amazon)


The Simpsons
(image via: MoscowStore)


Kangaroo Nurse/Doctor Doll
(image via: My Dollhouse Store)


Monkeys
(via: Amazon)


Super Mario
(image credit: cmsturmhouse)


by Abbey H
(image credit: hownowdesign)

Previously on Lists Galore!
Toy story
Lego mania
Cupcakes that take the cake