Dymkovo toys are the uniquely Russian form of one of the world’s most common folk crafts: clay figurines. With their origins going back to ancient times, these colorful toys have always remained up-to-date as a folk craft.
There are three types of Dymkovo toys: doll, whistles, and balls. Whistles and balls are holdovers from pre-Christian, pagan Russia, while the dolls have always been adapted to the cultural climate of the times. The dolls are the most common form of Dymkovo toy seen today.
At first glance, Dymkovo toys may appear to be imitations of porcelain figurines, but they are not. They have always been made of clay, and their subject matter has always come from the folk background of Russia: wild animals, such as deer; farm animals, such as horses and rooster; and herd animals such as cows or sheep. Extravagantly dressed ladies are also a common theme.
Every Dymkovo figurine is a unique piece of handiwork. Authentic toys come from the village of Dymkovo, in Vyatka region of Russia, and are handmade. The clay figures are air dried for several days before being kiln fired. After firing, they are painted in a two-step process. The first step is a whitewash with a mixture of chalk and skim milk; this gives the figurine a uniform color, and a base for the second painting. The second painting, which gives Dymkovo toys their characteristically bright designs, is done with an egg-yolk based paint.
The methods are decidedly low-tech and folksy, but the results are beautiful.