Dymkovo clay toy. Dymkovo toy - history of the fishery and photos

Dymkovo toy

History of the fishery.

The Dymkovo toy is an original clay craft that originated and was preserved exclusively on the territory of the Vyatka Territory (Kirov Region), in the settlement of Dymkovo, where stove makers and potters have long settled. Few other regions of Russia have such a bright and original symbol as the Vyatka region has in the form of a Dymkovo toy.

The history of the Dymkovo toy goes back about 400 years. The first Dymkovo toys were whistles in the form of horses, rams, goats and ducks, made for the annual holiday "Whistling", or "Whistle Dance" - held in honor of those killed in the 1418 battle between the Vyatchans and Ustyuzhans near the walls of the Khlynovsky Kremlin (Khlynov is the old name of Kirov ). According to legend, at night, without recognizing each other, two armies friendly to each other entered into battle. A funeral feast was celebrated annually for those who accidentally died. Later it was reborn into folk festivals. The celebration lasted for several days and was filled with the whistling of Vyatchans from multi-colored whistles. “When you get to the square and walk among the whistling crowd, it seems like you’re walking on air. Everyone has laughing and somewhat impudent faces. Walking people carefully hold in front of their faces a small clay toy, worth three or five kopecks, depicting a two-headed beast or a ram with gold spots on its sides. They are whistling at the tail of this ram...” (“Vyatka Notes”, V. Lebedev.).

In the past, making Dymkovo toys was a family craft. In the summer months, they prepared clay, pounded it by hand or ground lump chalk in paint grinders, the rest of the time they sculpted, dried, fired the products, closer to “Svistunya” they whitewashed them with chalk diluted in skimmed cow’s milk, painted them with egg paints, and decorated them with diamonds of golden leaf. And in the spring, they brought the Dymkovo toy to the city on boats for a holiday, delighting children and adults with their art.

At the end of the 19th century, the fishery fell into decline. In the 30s of the 20th century, as part of the revival of some folk crafts, support was provided for the revival of the Dymkovo toy craft. Several hereditary craftswomen organized the “Vyatka Toy” artel with the support of the first researcher of the craft, artist A.I. Denypin.

The toy is sculpted from local red clay in sections (unlike other toys, which are sculpted from a single piece of clay). Before firing, the toys are dried and only then fired. Previously, toys were fired in a real Russian kiln, now they are fired in muffle kilns.

Previously, the toy was fired in Russian kilns.

Today, firing is carried out in muffle furnaces.

Technology.

Dymkovo toy is a man-made art. Each is the creation of one master. From sculpting to painting, the process is creative and never repeated. There are not and cannot be two identical products. Each toy is unique and one of a kind.

For its production, local red clay is used, thoroughly mixed with fine river sand. The figures are sculpted in parts, individual parts are assembled and sculpted using liquid clay as a binding material. Traces of molding are smoothed out to give the product a smooth surface.

After complete drying for two to twenty days and firing at a temperature of 700-800 degrees, the toys are covered with tempera white in two or three layers (previously whitewashing was done with chalk diluted in milk). Previously, toys were painted with aniline dyes mixed with eggs and kvass, using sticks and feathers instead of brushes. The painted toy was again covered with beaten egg, which gave the faded aniline paints shine and brightness.

Today, tempera paints and soft core brushes are used for painting. The use of a wide range, in which there is a lot of red, yellow, blue, green, scarlet, gives the Dymkovo toy a special brightness and elegance. A strictly geometric ornament is built according to a variety of compositional schemes: cells, stripes, circles, dots are applied in various combinations. The decoration of the toy is completed with diamonds made of gold leaf or gold leaf, glued on top of the pattern.

The most common subjects: nannies with children, water carriers, rams with golden horns, turkeys, roosters, deer and, of course, young people, buffoons, ladies.

Over the 400 years of development of the craft, despite the variety of compositional solutions, certain plots of Dymkovo toys have become established, certain design techniques and a certain color scheme have become established. Halftones and imperceptible transitions are alien to the Dymkovo toy. Undiluted bright colors create a feeling of joy in life. All of it is an overflowing fullness of the feeling of the joy of life. She is especially good in pairs, and in a group with others, in close proximity to her brothers and sisters from the settlement on the Vyatka River.

The meaning of the Dymkovo toy

The Dymkovo toy has become one of the brands of the Kirov region, emphasizing the originality of the Vyatka region, its rich and ancient history.

Thanks to its simple plasticity, simplicity of patterns, brightness of the palette, the Dymkovo toy is widely studied and used in children's creativity, embodied in the form of drawings, clay products and other materials. The colorful outfits of Dymkovo ladies are reflected in the collections of modern fashion designers.

The folk "Dymkovo" style was repeatedly used in artistic (primarily children's) works.

Today, craftsmen follow the traditions of Dymkovo toys, but still every craftswoman (and this craft is exclusively female) tries to develop her own special author’s style.

President of Russia D.A. Medvedev paints a Dymkovo toy.

In Rus', pottery art originated in ancient times. At that time our ancestors great importance devoted to ritual holidays. The “pandemonium”, a celebration honoring the sun god Yaril, was no exception. On this day, the participants of the holiday threw painted clay balls and made full use of clay whistles. This is precisely what caused the appearance of ritual accessories, among which the Dymkovo toy took pride of place.

History of the fishery

The Dymkovo toy was “born” in Kirov. Five centuries ago, across the Vyatka River there was a small settlement of Dymkovo, where Tsar Ivan III ordered the resettlement of residents from northern regions Russia. Among them were many talented pottery masters, who began active production of toys in the new place. Whole families were involved in the work process: some mined clay and made mixtures from lump chalk; others made toys; still others were burned; the fourth - whitewashed and painted.

The Dymkovo fishery has been developing for four hundred years. During this time, its own themes, images, and characteristic drawings developed. There was no place for inexpressive ornaments or dull shades. The Dymkovo toy is the embodiment of life in the most joyful colors. It is not surprising that by the beginning of the 19th century, whistles from Dymkovo won the love of residents throughout Russia. More than 100 thousand toys were produced per year, which were sold in the capital and Orenburg province. 59 families from Dymkovo worked on their creation. Among the most famous names The Koshkins and Nikulins sounded.

(Mezrina Anna Afanasyevna - master of Dymkovo toys)

At the beginning of the 20th century, “dark times” came for the Dymkovo toy. They have ceased to enjoy their former popularity, so famous families pottery artisans began to look for other options for earning money. Exclusive whistles began to be replaced by cheap plaster options. Only one craftswoman, Anna Mezrina, remained faithful to traditional clay making. It is to her that descendants can be grateful for the preservation of the Dymkovo fishery.

(Master E. A. Koshkina and artist A. Denshin)

No less important role The artist Alexey Denshin also played in continuation of the traditions of his ancestors. WITH youth he was fond of Dymkovo toys, carefully sketching all the known ornaments. Even after October revolution did not lose hope of attracting attention to folk art: he released handwritten albums and collected collections of toys. His efforts were crowned with success: in the 30s of the 20th century, the Dymkovo fishery began to revive in Kirov.

Types of Dymkovo toys

Traditional images of Dymkovo toys - a lady, pets, a turkey. All of them are made in bright colors calling to show the joy of life. Collectors value figurines with which they can create certain plot compositions.

The Dymkovo toy, despite its canonicity, is exclusive. The fact is that every craftswoman tries to bring her own signature developments into the product. Therefore, it is impossible to find two absolutely identical toys.

Among the most popular images, which are “played out” in the Dymkovo toy, are the following:

Turkey- colorful, like a peacock, with a characteristic beard, decorated with gold leaf. Sizes can vary: from tiny 5 cm to an impressive 40 cm;

Lady- this is both a sophisticated city lady and a traditional young lady in a kokoshnik. There may be children around her. Gold leaf also adorns individual details;

Lamb- figures of this animal can be with different sizes horns A distinctive feature is their gilding. The lambs can be ordinary or in elegant funny clothes;

horse- a traditional image of an animal in bright blue or “bull’s-eye” colors.

Male images in Dymkovo toys are most often played out in the form of a rider on a horse, a walking city or village “gentleman”. Figurines of pigs, birds, and bells are popular.

Manufacturing technology

The process of creating a Dymkovo toy consists of two stages: forming the figure and painting it.

Clay and river sand are used to create the figurine. According to the rules, it should be Vyatka red clay. Each part of the toy is created separately: a body is formed from a spherical lump of clay, onto which the remaining parts are “assembled” (legs, arms, head, accessories, etc.). All parts must be held together with smooth transitions. This helps avoid chipping in the future.

The finished image is left to dry outdoors several days. Then it is burned on fire. Previously, a Russian stove was used for this. Today - muffle, where the temperature reaches 1000C.

When the workpiece cools, it is bleached with tempera paints. Our ancestors used milk for this purpose.

At the next stage of creating a toy - coloring - only pure colors are used without mixing. In the old days, natural dyes based on eggs, milk, soot, vinegar, and tempera were used for this. Today there are ready acrylic paints. The main requirement: brightness and naturalness. Be sure to use gold leaf for individual details.

Painting a Dymkovo toy

Dymkovo toy is a symbol of joy, vitality. The ornaments that are depicted on it are smooth painting combined with geometric patterns. The colors are selected based on the principle of contrast and highlighting each other. Birds' tails, animal horns, and details of people's wardrobes are covered with copper leaf (in the old days, thin sheets of gold leaf were used for this).

Traditional colors of Dymkovo toys: blue, red, yellow, emerald, light blue, green, orange. White and black paint are used in minimum quantity to give emphasis to certain areas.

Each color that is used in the Dymkovo toy has its own meaning: white - symbolizes purity; black - false; green - nature; red - strength, health; blue - sky.

(Sketch by artist Alexey Denshin for a toy)

Long-time masters diluted paints on egg yolk. The recipes were kept secret. Coloring was carried out in strict sequence:

• hair;
• eyes and eyebrows;
• mouth and cheeks;
• headdress;
• ornaments on clothes.

The patterns in the Dymkovo toy are closely related to amulets and symbolism of nature. There are sunny and moon signs as a symbol of the origin of life; rhombuses - as a sign of fertility; waves - as a sign of sky and moisture.

The final touch to the painting was the application of gold leaf.

Today, the Dymkovo toy continues its development. New technologies appear, fresh ideas are born. But production traditions remain unchanged.

“Dymkovo Toy” is one of the oldest toys in Russia, born in the Kirov region, in the village of Dymkovo more than 400 years ago. To this day, toy makers are devoted to their traditions. The “Dymkovo toy” is very valuable for children as it conveys the traditions of their ancestors and is environmentally friendly.
Among the crafts of making clay toys, which are actively developing today, one of the prominent places is occupied by Dymkovo, because the first craftswomen lived in the Zarechenskaya Dymkovskaya Sloboda, which is located on the right bank of the Vyatka, opposite the city of Kirov. Dymkovo is still home to wonderful craftswomen who make world-famous Dymkovo clay painted toys. Their creativity is rooted in extreme antiquity, but the written history of Dymkovo toys covers only a little more than a century and a half.The Vyatka, brightly colored “whistle” toy was first mentioned in the description of the “Whistle Dance” holiday in Vyatka in 1811. On this day, in the morning, in a dilapidated chapel at the city gates, city residents commemorated their ancestors, and in the afternoon, walking along the streets, they whistled on small whistles. Clay whistle dolls, painted bright colors, were sold right here on the street. The red-cheeked Dymkovo “feeders”, “water carriers”, “ladies” are full of amusing importance and dignity, and the ram-whistles in pants, the daring horsemen, are cheerful and perky. These lovely figurines have long outgrown the scope of toys for children; they are taken as souvenirs to all countries of the world, and in our home they are used as a funny sculptural decoration.

Peculiarities clay toys from Dymkovo

Haze indeed unique toy, because each toy is unique and one of a kind. Each has its own pattern and ornament. “Usually a toy consists of several parts. Red clay provides the opportunity to “glue” all the parts together without seams,” says Oksana Romanova, teacher of sculpture and painting at Dymka at the Amphora Academy of Ceramics.

The finished toy is left to dry for 5-7 days, and then it is placed in an oven and fired at a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius. Then bleaching is applied. No one knows exactly when or who first invented the white haze coating. Its predecessors, clay balls and whistles, were either black (they are made of resin) or red, the color of clay. Some believe that bleaching toys began in the early 19th century, when porcelain was in vogue among the elite. “The peasants, seeing porcelain in their masters' homes, adopted a white background, which was made from powdered chalk that was diluted in milk. The toy was immersed in the mixture and then allowed to dry. When it dried, the milk evaporated, allowing the primer to stick very well,” Romanova explained. People were also very creative in preparing flowers, using egg yolk, white and kvass. Despite limited opportunities peasant, the color scheme was wide and bright. Pale shades are never used in Haze making, and patterns are often simple. The first craftsmen did not have special tools, and sometimes they did not even have brushes.

Images onDymkovskytoys

Dymkovo toy makers were inspired by objects from life. “They sculpted everything they saw around them: animals, scenes from peasant life, fishermen, women with kokoshniks, beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen they saw at fairs,” Romanova said.IN Soviet times Dymka masters presented topics related to scientific and cosmic achievements; for example, a man and woman in spacesuits standing under an apple tree, like Adam and Eve, are very popular among Haze collectors. These characters are believed to represent Gagarin and Tereshkova.Funny and silly events from the lives of the masters themselves also found their way into the art form. Zoya Penkina, the hereditary master of Dymka, was inspired by the Moscow metro and created a composition with a disturbed woman who gets stuck in a turnstile and is greeted by an old man who helps her get out.The Dymkovo toy in its traditional form could have disappeared 100 years ago, but it was saved from oblivion by Anna Mezrina, the only Dymka master who sculpted toys according to tradition, as well as by the artist from the city of Vyatka Alexey Denshin. He popularized the craft, published albums, organized national and international exhibitions, organized workshops and supplied craftsmen with all the necessary tools.

Dymkovo toy today

Later, the Kirov Union of Artists created an Art Council to evaluate the use of traditional canons in the production of Dymka. Toys that were not prepared according to tradition were immediately destroyed with a hammer. This method prevented the emergence of a new branch of the unconventional “Dymkovo toy”.At first, the production of Dymka was taught in families, and knowledge was passed on from mother to daughter. But by the 60s, philosophy became less rigid, and students could be taken from outside relatives. Future masters had to take an exam in painting, drawing and composition and pass a unique test: students were given a simple figure from which they had to make an exact copy. They copied these common toys until they achieved perfection and then created their own forms. A long time ago, many people wanted to become Haze masters, but today there are only 7 to 15 people in the school.

The most large collection"Dymkovo toys"can be found in the museum and “Dymkovo Toy” and in the Vyatka Vasnetsov Art Museum.

Techniques for making Dymkovo toys

Technique for making Dymkovo sculpture toy not difficult. The toy is molded from pre-prepared red fatty clay, to which a small amount of clean river sand is added. The crumpled clay is placed on a pine or spruce board and modeling begins. They begin to sculpt from the main, massive part - the body of the animals, and the lady from the mortar - from the wide skirt, for which they roll out a pancake from clay and roll it into a cone. The remaining, smaller parts are attached to the main part, and the holes are pierced with sticks (piercings). After this, the toy is polished with a wet finger, then dried in the air, but not in the sun. Small toys dry out in two days, and large ones in a week or even two. After drying, the toy is fired in an electric muffle furnace at temperatures up to 900°C, small fired toys are immersed several times in a solution of ground and sifted chalk in skim milk, large ones are coated twice with the same solution. This solution forms a durable snow-white “casein” soil on the clay surface of the toy. Then the toy is painted with tempera (ground on egg yolk), and sometimes with aniline or gouache paints. The pattern of Dymkovo toys is unique and consists of bright round spots, circles, small polka dots, cells, stripes, etc. To enhance the decorative effect, sometimes small squares and other figures made of gold and silver leaf are glued onto them.

Dymkovo toys are similar to each other, but no two identical figures can be found. In addition, each craftswoman works in her own individual manner. Dymkovo toys are also distinguished by their impeccable correspondence of painting to the shape of the product. Along with archaic, fairy-tale images of deer, two-headed horses, and birds, the assortment of toys now includes images of bears and domestic animals presented in unusual situations. For example, a bear-musician playing the balalaika, a goat dressed in funny pants - all this enhances the festive feeling of the toy.

Interest in everyday genre, conveyed in a rather unique way, manifested itself in the expansion of the themes of Dymkovo toys. From urban life of the last century, the toy features horsemen, ladies and gentlemen, nannies and wet nurses. Very simplified poses, movements of the characters, and appropriate clothing retain the conventions coming from the old toy, but very accurately convey the type.

Genre scenes representing multi-figure compositions depict today's life in the city and countryside: festivities and tea parties, a circus performance and a company boat ride. All this is close to traditional motifs, which makes the toys convincing and shows a peculiar connection between the origins of the Dymkovo craft and modern searches. Currently, Dymkovo toys are made mainly in the workshops of the Kirov House of Artists; some artists work in their own homes in Dymkovo.

The Dymkovo toy is one of the oldest Russian folk clay crafts. It first appeared 400 years ago and has not yet lost its relevance. During this time, the appearance of the Dymkovo toy changed, but the peculiarity of its manufacture, which makes it unique, remained the same. Our story about the Dymkovo toy is intended primarily for children and primary schoolchildren, but interested adults will also find it interesting to read.

The history of the creation of the Dymkovo toy

This craft originates from Dymkovskaya Sloboda, which is now part of the city of Kirov (formerly Vyatka).

Exists interesting legend, associated with the creation of the Dymkovo toy. According to it, one day, many centuries ago, two friendly troops met near the walls of the city, but because it was dark, they decided that they were facing an enemy and a battle began. Many soldiers died in the battle, it is believed that they evil spirits They still fly over the battlefield to this day. And after this tragic event, it was customary to celebrate a funeral feast every year in the spring.

Gradually, this incident was forgotten, and instead of the funeral feast, folk festivities appeared, which were called “pandemonium”. On this day, women sculpted various figures and balls from clay, which they painted beautifully and carefully. They whistled merrily at the figurines, and it was customary to throw colored balls, with peas inside, at each other, which created additional noise.

Of course, not only the tragic incident contributed to the formation of the holiday and the creation of the Dymkovo toy. It was also important that near Dymkovskaya Sloboda there were deposits of clay that could be used in ceramics. Special way Modeling and original painting made Dymkovo toys in demand not only in Kirov, but also far beyond its borders.

Features of the Dymkovo toy

A characteristic feature of the Dymkovo toy, which distinguishes it from other figurines and figurines, is that they could all whistle, crackle, rumble and make other noise. This feature is due to the fact that evil spirits do not like noise, and the toy is designed to disperse these spirits. In the spring, with the beginning of agricultural work, their presence was not at all necessary. It was believed that they appeared in the fields in winter and one of the ways to combat them was spring holidays, which were distinguished by noisy fun. The task of the Dymkovo toy was to expel spirits with the help of whistling and roaring.

Thus, first of all, the figures had to make noise and whistle. Currently, this is not necessary attribute Dymkovo toys, however, the methods of making and painting them remained the same.

The process of making a Dymkovo toy

The entire journey of creating a unique and inimitable Dymkovo toy is akin to magic and is divided into several stages. The main ones are:

Modeling,
drying,
burning,
whitewash,
painting.

How to sculpt a Dymkovo toy

The sculpting process is carried out manually and therefore no two Dymkovo toys are identical, each of them is unique and contains a piece of the soul of the master who made it.

To create the craft, bright red clay mixed with fine river sand is used. The toy is created in parts, and then all the parts are fastened together using liquid red clay, and the joints are smoothed with a wet rag for a smoother transition.

Modeling can be divided into several stages:

1. Create the foundation.
2. Making appendages.
3. Connection of appendages with the body.
4. Adding decorations.

The basis for sculpting a Dymkovo toy is the body. First, a ball is rolled out of a piece of clay. Then the desired body shape is pulled out of this ball, and the smoother this process is, the more correct and beautiful the shape is.

The appendages are also made from a clay ball, but of a smaller size. By appendages we mean limbs, head, neck, etc. They are attached to the body, and the joints are held together with clay and water to make the transition smoother.

As decorations, you can create balls, rings, grooves, sausages from clay, and then attach them to the figurine.

For example, to make a young lady, you first need to fashion a cone-shaped skirt. Then, a body with an elongated neck is attached to it. The next step is to attach the head and hands, after which it is time to dress the young lady in a beautiful scarf, put a hat on her head and place a pet or child in her hands.

Male figures are sculpted a little differently. The torso and heads are attached to the legs, which are two thick sausages, the lower parts of which are bent to form the legs. Headdresses and hair also differ from women's images.

The body of the animal resembles a cone in structure, to the sharp part of which the head and neck are attached. The limbs are usually large, slightly tapering downwards. The tail and horns are attached to the body last.

An interesting point is that all Dymkovo toys are made to expand downward. For example, ladies always wear fluffy dresses, gentlemen most often sit on horses, and animals have short legs. This is due to the fact that the fragile bottom may not be able to withstand the weight of the entire toy after the drying process.

Drying and firing of Dymkovo toys

After the modeling process is completed, the toy is dried and then fired. The drying time depends on the size of the figurine and the indoor climate. Humidity, temperature and other indicators must be taken into account. Depending on these values, the drying process takes from 3 days to 3 weeks.

After drying comes the moment of firing. Previously, toys were fired in a village kiln. They were placed on a metal tray and placed directly on top of the firewood. After the toy was heated up, it was cooled in the same oven. Currently applied modern stoves, which save time and make the process of calcining the toy safer.

Whitewashing (whitening) of the Dymkovo toy

After drying and firing, the Dymkovo toy acquires a red-brown color, so it is bleached before applying patterns. To do this, the figurine is covered special solution, consisting of chalk powder and milk. After the milk sours, the solution becomes solid and a smooth surface is created on the surface of the toy. white layer. Whitening the figures allows you not only to make their surface smoother, but also to give the applied paints a special vibrant brightness.

Despite numerous attempts to change the composition of the solution, they were unsuccessful. As a result, the figures turned out yellowish or the surface looked uneven. Therefore, now, like many centuries ago, whitewashing of Dymkovo toys is carried out precisely with the composition indicated above.

Features of painting the Dymkovo toy

In order to give a unique image to the Dymkovo toy, he uses a combination of bright, contrasting colors and geometric shapes. Thanks to this, the figures acquire a festive coloring.

Initially, tempera paints diluted with vinegar, kvass or ground in eggs were used for painting. Eight colors were most often applied. Painting was done using sticks with rags wrapped around them, and to draw eyes and eyebrows, sticks were used. Currently, special paints for ceramics, acrylic paints ground on eggs, or gouache paints are used. They are applied to the toy with ferret or kolin brushes.

The classic painting of Dymkovo toys consists of a combination of large geometric patterns and plain painted parts. When applied, contrasting colors are used, interspersed with white and black, as well as small sheets of gold leaf. All this allows you to create a unique color scheme and emphasize the richness of the shades. Animal figures and skirt designs were the most vividly painted. Squares of gold leaf were applied to military epaulets, ladies' hats, and turkey tails. Most often, when painting toys, the following colors were used: blue, green, red, crimson, orange, light blue, emerald, brown, black.

The peculiarity of the drawing was and is its consistency. First, hair, eyes and eyebrows were drawn, then the headdress and skirt were painted. To give the pattern additional shine, pieces of gold leaf were glued in some places.

The pattern itself is a varied combination of geometric shapes and colors of different shapes, which give a special flavor to the Dymkovo toy and help create a huge variety of compositions. The most commonly used geometric shapes are circles, stripes, rings, snakes.

It was important to start coloring with light shades, to which more was added dark color. A true master should have known what the primary colors symbolized. For example, green is a symbol of nature, arable land and earth, red is beauty, health, fire, white is kindness, truth, honesty, black is grief, evil, and blue is the color of the sky.

When applying patterns, they first tried to apply those that symbolized truth, beauty, healthy life. Such toys became a kind of amulet.

For each figure there were certain painting techniques. The most brightly colored ones were roosters, turkeys, horsemen, ducks, and goats. The pattern was often not only original, but also fantastic. Figures of rams, pigs and cows were created somewhat less frequently.

Small squares of gold leaf served as additional decoration for the pattern. Its use was characteristic and distinctive feature Dymkovo toys. Squares cut from gold leaf leaves using a brush dipped in egg white, applied to the toy and straightened with a dry brush.

Are there any masters of Dymkovo toys now?

The traditions of creating Dymkovo toys are still alive. This process never became automated and serial. The figurines are still painted by hand, according to the rules that existed 400 years ago when this folk craft. However, not all young masters have the patience to complete the learning process, but those who comprehend it completely become real professionals. With their own hands they create fascinating images of Dymkovo toys, each of which is individual and unique.

The creation of Dymkovo toys was and remains a woman's profession. A flight of fancy and knowledge of ancient traditions and customs helps the fair sex create incredible images and convey them with a whole range of rich colors.

Thanks to the Dymkovo toy, which has existed for more than 400 years, the rich history of the Russian people and their cultural heritage. These bright and unusual figurines delight the eye and lift your spirits; they immerse you in an exciting fairy tale, the unique and original plot of which each person comes up with for himself. And, although the Dymkovo toy has now lost its ritual meaning, it continues to be a symbol of the generosity of the soul, good spirits and boundless kindness of the Russian people.

Dymkovo toy short message will tell you a lot useful information about one of the oldest Russian folk crafts. Information about the Dymkovo toy can be supplemented with interesting facts.

Dymkovo toy: message

Dymkovo toy: history of creation

This folk craft comes from Dymkovskaya Sloboda, modern territory city ​​of Kirov. There is an interesting legend associated with the creation of this toy. Many centuries ago, two friendly armies approached the city walls. It was already night outside and nothing was visible. They decided that the enemy was facing them and a terrible battle began. Many soldiers died in the battle. After such a tragic event, it was decided to hold a funeral feast every year in the spring. Over the years, the incident was forgotten and instead of the funeral feast, “pandemoniums” appeared - folk festivities. Women were engaged in sculpting various balls and clay figures, which they painted colorfully. During the festivities, they whistled merrily with these figures, and threw balls with peas inside them at each other, creating additional noise. So the festivities turned into a tradition of sculpting ceramic products and toys with special paintings, which became a real business card Kirov. In addition, there were clay deposits within the Dymkovo settlement, which also played a role.

Dymkovo toy: features and manufacturing process

The Dymkovo toy differs from other figurines and figurines in that it can crack, whistle, rumble, that is, create noise. Its original purpose is to disperse evil spirits who do not like noise. Today we're overclocking evil forces They don’t do this, but the Dymkovo toy has taken a strong place in the Russian craft industry, retaining the old method of manufacturing and painting.

The creation process consists of several stages:

• Modeling

The sculpting is completely handmade. Therefore among huge amount You won’t find two identical Dymkovo toys. Each of them is unique in its own way. For the craft, bright red clay mixed with river sand is used. Each part is created separately, then held together with red liquid clay. For a smooth transition, joints are rubbed with a wet cloth. In the sculpting of the Dymkovo toy, the torso makes up the torso. First, the ball is rolled, and then the desired shape is pulled out of it. Other parts are made similarly. At the end, the toy is decorated with rings, sausages, balls, and grooves. The peculiarity of the product is that they all expand towards the bottom (ladies in fluffy dresses, men are often on horses, and animals are on short legs). Thanks to this, during the drying process the toy can withstand the weight and does not change.

• Drying

The duration of drying a product depends on its size and indoor climate. On average, the process takes 3 days to a month.

• Burning

Previously, Dymkovo toys were fired in village ovens: they were placed on a baking sheet and placed on firewood. As soon as the product became hot, it was cooled. Today, firing is carried out in special furnaces, which significantly save time.

• Whitewash

After firing, the toy turns red-brown. Before applying the pattern, it is whitened with a special solution of sour milk and chalk powder. When the solution hardens, an even layer of white color is created on the surface of the product. Thanks to this, paints can be applied to the surface, which will make the toy brighter and more attractive.

• painting

A story about the Dymkovo toy is impossible without a description of the painting technology. It is distinguished by a combination of contrasting and bright colors with geometric shapes. Initially, paints were used diluted with vinegar, kvass, or ground in eggs. 8 primary colors were applied using sticks with rags wrapped around them. Spray sticks were used to draw eyebrows and eyes.

Today, masters paint with special paints for ceramics, gouache or acrylic ground on egg. The design is applied with brushes. Classic painting consists of smoothly painted parts and large geometric patterns. The colors are contrasting, interspersed with black and white, and gold leaf is used. Most often, blue, red, green, crimson, light blue, orange, black, emerald and brown are used for painting toys.

The drawing is applied sequentially: hair, eyes, eyebrows, headdress, skirt. To give the pattern additional shine, gold leaf is glued on. The pattern combines color solutions And geometric figures: circles, rings, stripes, snakes.

Interesting facts about the Dymkovo toy

• Despite the fact that the Dymkovo fishery is already 400 years old, by the twentieth century it had experienced declines. In 1942, thanks to the artist Alexei Denshin, it received a second life, becoming the hallmark of Kirov.
• In the USSR, the Dymkovo lady was depicted on soda machines.
• The first written mention of “haze” dates back to 1811.
• The secret of making toys in the family was passed down through the female line.
• The symbol of the “haze” is the lady.

We hope that the “Dymkovo Toy” report helped to learn about Russian folk craft, which arose 400 years ago. A short story You can add information about the Dymkovo toy for grade 2 using the comment form below.