Bogorodskaya carving, Bogorodskaya toy - Russian folk craft, which consists of making carved toys and sculptures from soft wood (linden, alder, aspen). Its center is the village of Bogorodskoye (Sergiev Posad district, Moscow region).

Story

Origin

Sergiev Posad and its surroundings have long been considered the historical center of the toy business in Russia. Sometimes it was called the “Russian toy capital” or “the capital of the toy kingdom.” Many surrounding villages made toys. But the most famous was the village of Bogorodskoye, located approximately 29 kilometers from Sergiev Posad. Experts call the toy industries of Sergiev Posad and the village of Bogorodskoye two branches on one trunk. Indeed, the crafts have common roots: the traditions of ancient pillar-shaped sculpture and the school of volumetric, relief wood carving at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, known since the 15th century.

According to folk legend, a long time ago there lived a family in the village. The mother decided to amuse the small children. She cut out an “auku” figurine from a block of wood. The children rejoiced, played and threw the “auka” onto the stove. Once the husband began to get ready for the market and said: “I’ll take the “auku” and show it to the traders at the market.” “Auka” was bought and ordered again. Since then, toy carvings have appeared in Bogorodskoye. And it began to be called “Bogorodskaya”.

The real date of the fishery's origin is quite difficult to determine. For a long time, most researchers believed that since the 17th century, Bogorodskoye had been engaged in three-dimensional wood carving. The basis for such statements were the palace books of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, which talk about the purchase of toys for the royal children on the way to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Moreover, they usually refer not to the original source, but to the works of D. Vvedensky and N. Tseretelli, famous researchers of Russian peasant toys in the 1930s, who also rely not on archival documents, but on the research of I. E. Zabelin. However, the latter made a mistake: the purchase of wooden toys is indicated in the expense book of Ekaterina Alekseevna, the wife of Peter I, in the entry of 1721. But, as I. Mamontova writes in her article: “However, the source clearly states that the purchase was made in Moscow...”.

It is believed that the earliest surviving works of Bogorodsk craft (located in the State Historical Museum, State Russian Museum, S. T. Morozov Museum of Folk Art and the Art and Pedagogical Museum of Toys) date back to the beginning of the 19th century. Most likely, it would be legitimate to attribute the origin of carved Bogorodsk toys to the 17th-18th centuries, and the establishment of the craft to the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries.

At first, fishing was a typical peasant production. The products were made seasonally: from late autumn to early spring, that is, when there was a break in agricultural work. For a long time, Bogorodsk carvers were directly dependent on the Sergiev craft, working directly on orders from Sergiev buyers and producing mainly so-called “gray” goods, which were finally finished and painted in Sergiev Posad.

At the same time, it was at the initial stage of the formation of the Bogorodsk craft that works began to appear that are considered masterpieces of folk art, including: “The Shepherd Boy,” which became a kind of Bogorodsk classic, lions with lion cubs, dogs with puppies.

The craft arose in a purely peasant environment, but developed under the strong influence of craft production with a different type of culture - the townspeople. This type of culture is a symbiosis of urban and peasant traditions, influenced by porcelain sculpture, book illustration, popular prints and the works of professional artists - painters.

Development

Already in the middle of the 19th century, the center of carving moved to Bogorodskoye, and the Bogorodsk craft gained independence. The formation of the Bogorodsk style itself was greatly influenced by the work of such masters as A. N. Zinin, and somewhat later by the activities of a professional artist, a native Bogorodsk resident P. N. Ustratov. The period of the 1840s - 1870s, according to a number of experts, is the heyday of the Bogorodsk carved handicraft industry.

The next stage in the development of the toy business in Bogorodskoye is associated with the activities of the Moscow provincial zemstvo in this area in 1890-1900. In 1891, a training and demonstration workshop was organized in Sergiev Posad, which combined the functions of a research and educational institution, and also sold toys in Russia and abroad. A few years earlier in Moscow, with the support of S. T. Morozov, the Moscow Handicraft Museum was opened. In fact, it was a whole movement that revived and supported the national basis in fading folk art. Zemstvo figures and artists such as N.D. Bartram, V.I. Borutsky, and I.I. Oveshkov played a significant role in the development of Bogorodsk crafts.

Professional artist, collector, and later founder and first director State Museum toys (now the Art and Pedagogical Museum of Toys) N.D. Bartram was one of the first to try to preserve and revive ancient traditions. However, seeing that the old works did not captivate the artisans, he began to direct them towards creating works in the folk style, but following the models of professional artists. An opponent of this path was the artist and collector A. Benoit, who considered this process to be an artificial salvation of the fishery.

One can talk a lot about whether the intervention of professional artists in folk craft brought more harm or benefit, but the indisputable factor is that for several decades, products of the zemstvo period were a kind of standard for master carvers.

In 1913, an artel was organized in Bogorodskoye. This helped the Bogorodsk residents gain economic independence from the Sergiev buyers. The initiators of the creation of the artel were carvers A. Ya. Chushkin and F. S. Balaev, already quite well-known at that time. The artel was headed by a kind of “artistic council”, which consisted of the oldest and most experienced masters. New carvers joining the artel were first assigned to the easiest work; if the young master could cope with making a simple toy, his task was made more difficult: making animal figures and multi-figure compositions.

In the same 1913, a training and demonstration workshop with an instructor class was opened in Bogorodskoye, and in 1914, a zemstvo school opened on its basis, in which boys studied on a full board basis.

In the first decade after the October Revolution, old zemstvo patterns were preserved in Bogorodskoye, and large quantities of fishery products were exported. In 1923, the “Bogorodsky Carver” artel was restored, in which the older generation craftsmen continued their work and the Bogorodsky craft occupies one of the leading places. Changing social structures stimulated craftsmen to search for new forms and artistic solutions. However, it was precisely at that time that the problem of “easel painting,” which had emerged in the “Zemstvo period,” arose. In the 1930s, the so-called sculpture toy appeared, distinguished by the novelty of the theme and its disclosure.

Over the next two decades (1930s - 1950s), professional artists and art critics again intervened in the affairs of the craft - mainly employees of the Scientific Research Institute of the Art Industry (NIIHP) created during this period. Not only in Bogorodskoye, but also in other industries, overt politicization is beginning. The masters were given themes that were alien to peasant nature and the people's understanding of beauty. In Bogorodskoye, the reaction to ideological pressure was the development fairy tale theme. Convention Bogorodskaya carving contributed in the best possible way to the expression of the unusual in a fairy tale, the creation of vivid and memorable images. Historical theme During these years, it significantly narrowed and localized. First of all, it reflected the events of the Great Patriotic War.

One of the most tragic dates in the history of Bogorodsk crafts can be called 1960, when the artel labor organization, traditional for artistic crafts, was eliminated and replaced by a factory one. This process is sometimes aptly called “fabrication” of the fishery. From this time on, the craft began to slowly die, and it was replaced by the concepts of “art industry”, “plan”, “shaft” and other completely alien concepts. A decade and a half later, by an evil irony of fate, the village of Bogorodskoye with its unique landscape and the features of the Kunya River attracted the attention of power engineers. The situation in the fishery has worsened. Log houses with lace trim were demolished, gardens were cut down, and along with them, traditional Bogorodsk gatherings and the simplicity of rural communication went away. Master carvers moved to the upper floors of multi-story buildings, and practicing traditional crafts became increasingly problematic. G. L. Dine wrote back in 1984 in the magazine “ decorative arts USSR": "...the village seems small and pitiful next to the new buildings advancing on it. The security zone probably won’t save her now either. The way of life of people, their spiritual and moral image will inevitably change, which means that Bogorodsk art will also transform.”

In the 1970s - 1980s, about 200 carvers worked at the Bogorodsk artistic carving factory. Among them were high-class craftsmen who developed interesting designs, and there were master performers. Due to the turbulent events in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the situation in the fishery worsened even further. Currently, the Bogorodsk fishery is in an endless process of struggle for survival. Its situation is unstable: traditional sales markets have been lost, raw materials have risen in price, high energy prices - all these factors do not contribute to improving the situation. The Bogorodsk artistic carving factory has changed its name so many times over the past decade that, according to the current chief artist of this organization, “we barely have time to change signs and stamps.”

Two organizations were created in Bogorodskoye, producing the same products. The best craftsmen leave the “official trade”, but at home they continue to create high-class things, although not everyone can do it. Most young masters follow the lead of the market, performing work that is either insignificant from the point of view of folk tradition or is completely far from it. You don't have to look far for an example. One of the leading craftsmen who still works in the field, S. Pautov, said with bitter irony: “The frosts destroyed the French near Moscow in 1812, the Germans in 1941, and will soon destroy the Bogorodsk carvers.” The artist had in mind wooden carvings depicting Father Frost - a favorite character New Year's holidays, which replaced the notorious bear for homeworkers. At vernissages and on store shelves, you most often see the worst of what is still being done in Bogorodskoye. Interest in Bogorodsk toys and sculptures is declining due to the low quality of workmanship, low artistic level and fairly high cost.

Modernity

Currently, the situation in the field is difficult, but the factory continues to produce products. A difficult situation has developed at the Bogorodsk Art and Industrial College. This is a constant shortage of local youth; the influx of students from the constituent entities of the federation, on the one hand, contributes to the popularization of Bogorodsk artistic carving, and on the other, reduces the classical Bogorodsk tradition to zero.

Among the Soviet masters of Bogorodsk carving are F. S. Balaev, A. G. Chushkin, V. S. Zinin, I. K. Stulov, M. A. Pronin, M. F. Barinov and others.

Features of the fishery

Bogorodskaya carving is performed using a special “Bogorodskaya” knife (“pike”).

One of the distinctive features of the craft has always been the production of moving toys. The most famous toy is “Blacksmiths”, usually depicting a man and a bear, who alternately hit an anvil. This toy, whose age, according to some sources, exceeds 300 years, became a symbol of both the Bogorodsk craft and Bogorodskoye itself, becoming part of the coat of arms of the village.

The history of Bogorodsk wooden toys goes back more than 350 years. The products are known all over the world, and in their time they were appreciated not only by children, but also by world-famous sculptors. A distinctive feature of the Bogorodsk toy is the absence of obvious details and strict carved forms in sculptural products. Thanks to this manufacturing method, the toy developed creativity and imagination in children, and did not get boring for a long time.

Movable toys were no less interesting. Their thoughtful design worked for a long time and did not break.

The Bogorodsk toy got its name from the village where craftsmen who made wooden blanks lived. The Bogorodsk toy became so firmly established in the life of the local population that one of the products became a symbol of the village and is depicted on its coat of arms. This is a moving toy with a man and a bear.

History of the fishery

The production of Bogorodsk toys began in the 15th – 16th centuries, in the village of the same name near Sergiev Posad, Moscow region. Initially, craftsmen in processing and artistic cutting of wood worked on orders from buyers. They prepared the base, which they then painted in Sergiev Posad.

Finally, as a craft, the production of Bogorodsk toys was formed at the end of the 18th - early XIX century, when the entire process of making toys was transferred to craftsmen from the village of Bogorodskoye. They developed them, determined the theme, made the bases and, if necessary, painted them.

At the beginning of the 20th century, an artel was organized in the same village, which trained masters of cutting toys, transferring to them the accumulated knowledge, techniques and skills. Due to the war and economic turmoil, the artel was temporarily closed, and after new strength started working already in Soviet times.

Bogorodsk wooden toys were actively exported to European countries. At first, the themes were presented by the life of the common people; later, after the end of World War II, the masters went into fairy-tale themes. In later years, the appearance of themes for making toys was influenced by events taking place in the country, for example, sending a man into space, popularizing sports, etc.

Types of Bogorodsk toys

Bogorodsk wooden toys were of two types:

1. Sculpture toy

2. Movable toy

The sculptural figures were distinguished by the absence of clearly defined features. In them, children, due to the development of their own imagination, could see a bear, a fox and other animals.

Bogorodsk craftsmen also carved toys with moving structures. The figurines were attached by the craftsmen to dies that moved relative to each other; springs with buttons were also placed inside them, and another part of the toys consisted of figurines attached to a dies with a counterweight on threads.

The most famous Bogorodsk wooden toys are:

Blacksmiths, fixed on dies;

Dancing man with a spring inside;

Chickens pecking grains on a circle with a counterweight.

Episodes from ordinary life, the crafts and professions of that time were often covered. For example, a shoemaker was depicted at the moment of making boots, a spinner sat with a spindle at a spinning wheel, lumberjacks chopped wood, hussars sat on horses, young ladies were depicted with flowers in their hands. In later stories, bears accompanied by space satellites, vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, football players, etc. appeared.

Manufacturing technology

Traditionally, Bogorodsk wooden toys were carved from solid linden. Among all trees, this wood is the softest and most pliable.

First, the harvested and dried trunks were sawed into logs and only after that they were sent to work by the craftsmen.

Craftsmen split the chocks themselves, with a couple of strokes, into four parts. It was this form of workpiece that was most convenient for work. The figures were cut out using special Bogorodsk knives and files. Expensive types of toys were made from a single piece, and simpler toys were made from the remaining chips.

When selecting logs, we tried to take those that had the smallest number of knots, since wood with knots is difficult to process for this type of fishing. Wood carvers were usually men.

Painting of Bogorodskaya toy

(Colored (painted) Bogorodsk toys)

After preparing all the elements of the toy, it was assembled and sent for painting. If the composition was not a single structure, but was assembled from many figures or wood chips, the elements were fastened together using PVA glue and wooden glazing beads.

Most often there were Bogorodsk toys that were not painted at all. They allowed children to develop their imagination. If the toys were painted, the paints used by the craftsmen were bright, rich and very rich. The toys showed elements of Khokhloma and Gorodets painting, but at the same time they were devoid of the techniques characteristic of these small parts, since the toys were designed for children.

Hello friends! It's no secret that primary school- an additional source of creative inspiration not only for children, but also for their parents (at least for those parents who are not averse to making crafts in their spare time). Various competitions and creative tasks (for example, decorating a classroom for a holiday) will not let you get bored. And sometimes they prompt very interesting experiments that would hardly have a place in their own schedule.

Our son Volodya is in third grade, and now the school is holding a competition on making a Slavic toy with his own hands from any materials. The competition is for students, but parental participation is implied. :)

The mission to support the honor of the class in this competition fell to us. We somehow immediately decided on the theme - the famous Bogorodsk toy “Blacksmiths”, the one where a man and a bear hit an anvil with sledgehammers.

By the way, while collecting material for our venture, I also read about the history of the Bogorodsk toy. So, the birthplace of this folk craft of carved wooden toys and sculptures is the ancient village of Bogorodskoye near Moscow. At the end of the 16th century, the village was transferred to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, which was one of the major centers of artistic crafts in Rus'.

It is believed that it was thanks to the influence of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery that the Bogorodsky craft was born and developed. The Blacksmiths toy is over 300 years old, and it is rightfully a symbol of the craft.

According to references in ancient documents, Peter I gave “Kuznetsov” to his son Tsarevich Alexei. And the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, looking at this Bogorodsk toy, said: “The people who created this toy - great people.»

If you wish, you will find a lot on the Internet interesting information about history and modern development Bogorodsky fishery.

In the meantime, we will move on. Of course, we didn’t even think about making the “Blacksmiths” toy, as expected, out of wood. But to make it from a softer and more pliable material - corrugated cardboard - this idea seemed quite feasible to us.

As it turned out later, we were not mistaken in our predictions; the toy turned out just right! The characteristic feature of the Bogorodsk toy - the mobility of the elements - was fully realized: a man and a bear are happily pounding on an anvil, and the sound is made almost like knocking on wood.

In general, the product turned out to be quite durable thanks to its multi-layer construction.

But let's move on to the manufacturing process itself, and you will see all the nuances for yourself.

Master class: Bogorodsk toy “Blacksmiths” made of cardboard

Materials and tools:

— sheets of A4 size office paper (for printing templates);
- micro-corrugated cardboard;
- wooden skewers;
- stationery knife;
- scissors;
- metal ruler;
— a punch and a hammer or an awl;
— glue “Moment Crystal”;
- double-sided tape;
- acrylic paints and brushes.

It all started with this drawing of the “Blacksmiths” toy, found on the Internet.

Based on it, templates for cutting out of cardboard were prepared, and things started to work. You can immediately download the templates here:

I would like to dwell separately on the main material for making toys. We used micro-corrugated cardboard (this is one of the types of corrugated packaging cardboard). It is three-layer (two flat, one corrugated), its thickness is 1.5-2 mm.

Why micro-corrugated cardboard? In addition to the fact that we have a long-standing warm relationship with corrugated cardboard, this material is very easy to process. It is easy to cut, and when several layers are glued together, the parts are quite dense and durable.

In principle, as an alternative, you can use, for example, 1.5 mm thick bookbinding cardboard. But it's harder to cut. It will be especially difficult to cut out the heads of the man and the bear.

In addition, microcorrugated cardboard is much cheaper. And if you use used boxes, it will generally cost free. Microcorrugated cardboard boxes are usually used to pack confectionery, tableware, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, and much more.

Finding suitable boxes is not difficult. And given the scale of the parts, you won’t need much cardboard at all.

1. Preparing the parts of the “Blacksmiths” toy.

We cut out all the details from cardboard using templates. For convenience, the number of templates is equal to the number of parts.

The technology is simple: we cut out a template or a group of templates with small allowances and attach them to the wrong side of the cardboard with pieces of double-sided tape, after which we cut out the parts. This process is demonstrated in more detail and clearly.

When placing templates on cardboard, pay attention to recommended directions of corrugated layer waves(the file contains the corresponding designations). Depends on this appearance, And mechanical characteristics details.

Here are all the parts of the anvil cut out:

Two trapezoidal parts (they are needed to fill the gaps between the anvil parts and the bar) need to be flattened.

Cut out the sledgehammer parts. Well, everything here is extremely simple.

The handles will be pieces of wooden skewer length 30 mm. In this case, it is better to use a thicker skewer.
Next, cut out the details of the planks. Here, to increase rigidity, pieces of a wooden skewer are inserted into the middle part of each plank, just in case (this skewer is smaller in diameter than a skewer for sledgehammers).

In principle, this is not necessary. It’s just that the parts are narrow and long, so they bend easily (especially taking into account the transverse arrangement of the waves of the corrugated layer). I didn’t want to take any risks - they strengthened it just in case.

When you glue layers of planks together even without skewers, their strength and rigidity will noticeably increase. And no transverse forces should be applied to the slats when the finished “Blacksmiths” toy is functioning. I think everything should be fine either way.

But if you still want more reliability, you know what to do. :)

On the outer parts of the bottom bar, immediately use the tip of a knife to make small marks where the anvil should be.

We make holes on all parts of the planks. We used a punch from the Bison set.

If such a tool is not available, then simply pierce the holes with an awl, and then widen them with a skewer, the pieces of which you will use as rods when assembling the toy.

Important point: The skewer should rotate freely in the holes of the bar.

We move on to the most difficult and important stage - cutting out the details of the man and the bear.

There are 2 groups of parts in mirror image. This is done so that the finished figure has external parts on both sides with the front layer facing outward.

At first we even drew the fingers on the bear's paws and the man's hands. But cutting it out is too much of a chore. Although it seems to have worked out.

The final templates in this part have been simplified, so it will be a little easier for you. :)

For those who will be cutting out such figures from cardboard for the first time, clue: complex small contours (for example, a man’s face or a bear’s muzzle) should be cut with short pressing movements with the very tip of the knife blade. First, push the outline of the area in this way, then cut the line through the entire thickness of the cardboard.

And on some parts, you immediately need to make holes for the rods on which the figures of our “blacksmiths” will be attached.

Important point: and in this case the skewer should fit tightly into the hole.

2. Assembling the “Blacksmiths” toy.

Glue together the parts of all the elements of the toy.

Drop a little glue into the hole of the sledgehammer (it’s convenient to use a toothpick for this) and insert the handle.

We glue the anvil parts together with blocks, as shown in the photo.

Then we glue the blocks. Press the work surface of the anvil against the table until it is level.

Glue the parts of the top and bottom strips together.

At the same time we will prepare 4 rods. The length is determined depending on the number of layers and thickness of the cardboard.

Apply glue to the trapezoidal parts of the anvil and glue them to the bottom bar. Insert the top bar as well to make sure it moves freely.

Gluing the man's parts together. Here, assemble the entire middle part, glue one assembled side to it. Do not attach the other side yet.

We prepare the parts of the bear in the same way.

Well, all that remains is to attach our “blacksmiths” to the movable slats.

We insert it into the holes on the bear's leg and glue 2 rods, as shown in the photo.

We insert the rods into the holes of the planks.

Apply glue to the surface of the middle part of the bear, as well as the holes on the second leg. And glue the rest of the figure so that the rods fit into the holes.

Insert and glue the sledgehammer.

If you plan to paint the toy, you don’t have to glue the sledgehammer for now. It’s even better to first paint the parts of the Blacksmiths toy, and then start assembling.

We attach the man to the slats in the same way.

That's it now. Our cardboard copy of the Bogorodsk toy “Blacksmiths” is ready!

It’s funny to say, but we ourselves experienced childish delight when we tried it out. :) It works! Everything is moving, the hammers are knocking - it’s just a miracle))

What can we say about our third-graders, who, when we finally presented the result, were also happy to move the planks and listen to the ringing clatter of cardboard sledgehammers.)

By the way, in the process of preparing the description, an idea arose about how to make the cardboard “color” of the toy at the ends more uniform. Now, as you can see, one half is darker, the other is lighter. A trifle, of course, but still...

So, you can alternate mirror layers: 1 layer from one group of parts, then a layer from the second group, etc.

With this, our work on creating the Russian folk toy “Blacksmiths” was completed. But it’s too early to draw a conclusion. The toy still had to be painted.

A team of artists from our class took on this task. And Volodya took upon himself, let’s say, coordination functions. :)

Painted a toy acrylic paints.

The girls took the matter seriously, even studying samples of folk costumes.

The result was such an elegant and fun moving toy with a traditional plot.

Now we are waiting for the results of the competition. :)

Friends, how do you like this embodiment of the Bogorodsk “Blacksmiths”? It seems to me that such a toy is quite worthy of being used for its intended purpose - for children to play with.

Ultra-budget option. But this, of course, is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that you can easily make a toy with your own hands and even involve children in this entertaining process. If, due to age, it is still too early to cut and glue cardboard parts, then there are no age restrictions for coloring.

* * *

PS. On the eve of the March 8 holiday, Olya Kachurovskaya developed new thematic templates for cutting in continuation of the series of festive chocolate bowls.

If you haven't downloaded it yet free templates in the Kartonkino store, pick up our holiday gift right now:

Happy upcoming holiday, dear readers! Have a sunny mood! Let the coming spring fill you with fresh strength, energy, and inspiration! Let there be more reasons for joyful smiles! Love, happiness, family well-being all to you!

See you again at KARTONKINO!

Your Inna Pyshkina.

In the village of Bogorodskoye, not far from Sergiev Posad, woodcarving masters live and work, continuers of the glorious traditions of Russian artisans. Bogorodskaya carving appeared as a craft back in the 16th century. The peasant made toys for his children, for other people’s children, and then, lo and behold, he began to sell them on the sly. The neighbors in the village, seeing such a thing, began to engage in profitable business themselves, and off we go.

Over time, there was not a single family left in the village that did not carve wood. The characters that the masters took as prototypes for their toys surrounded them from childhood. Shepherd, woodcutter, peasant with a cow, mower. Later, craftsmen, ladies and hussars, landowners and officials appeared in the works of the Bogorodians. If ordinary people in the works of Bogorodsk craftsmen were depicted, as a rule, with love and warmth, then in the figures of ladies and hussars one can almost always notice subtle humor and irony. A characteristic feature of the Bogorodsk toy is that all the characters are depicted in movement, in the action inherent in this character. If he is a woodcutter, then he is swinging an ax; if he is a hussar, then he is prancing on a horse.

Such toys as “Blacksmiths” and “Chickens”, with movable figures on wooden slats, are widely known. Animals are not uncommon in the works of Bogorodsk carvers; the most popular character of the animal world in Bogorodsk toys is, of course, the bear. In the 19th century, multi-figure compositions and genre scenes from life appeared in the works of Bogorodsk woodcarving masters. A troika with a sleigh and a dashing coachman, a peasant party, a tea party - these are the common subjects of such compositions. The Bogorodskaya toy of the 19th century is a real almanac of village life of that time. Great place in the works of masters scenes from peasant life, from the life of village craftsmen - blacksmiths, coopers, carpenters - all of them are captured by Bogorodsk craftsmen in their work, both individually and in multi-figure compositions.

The material for Bogorodsk toys is soft, pliable wood of alder, linden, and aspen. According to tradition, Bogorodsk carvers always worked without sketches and outlines, “from the fly” - hence the second name of Bogorodsk carving - fly. One of compositional techniques Bogorodskaya carving - carving from a triangular block of wood obtained by splitting a log. When carving, the main tool of the master carver is a sharp knife of a unique shape, called the Bogorodsk knife.
During Soviet times, the craft did not disappear; in 1923, the Bogorodsky Carver artel was organized, transformed in 1960 into an artistic carving factory.

In our time, the factory continues to exist, although it is not going through its best period. Numerous cheap fakes and handicrafts by home-grown “masters” have flooded the capital’s markets, driving down prices and flooding the market with low-quality goods. After all, anyone who has not seen a real Bogorodsk toy cannot distinguish true craftsmanship from hackwork.

Now there is a museum of Bogorodsk toys at the factory, you can also go on a tour of the workshops and try to assemble a toy yourself from ready-made parts. The Bogorodskaya toy is alive, and it is truly Russian folk tradition in the rich and diverse culture of Russia.

The business of carving various funny toys was founded in the village of Bogorodskoye. Key principles carvings of figurines from wooden chocks in this place were laid down in the 16-17th century by Trinity-Sergius peasant serfs. It was from this period that the Bogorodsk toy and its homeland became known throughout the world. What is it characteristic features peasant craft?

The business of carving various funny toys was founded in the village of Bogorodskoye

There are several legends that have been telling for more than 300 years about the appearance of the first figurine carved from wood. One of them tells about a peasant family. A mother carved a funny toy out of a block of wood for her children, which she nicknamed “auka.” The children played with her for a short time and then threw her behind the stove. Out of interest, the husband decided to take the auka with him to the market to show it to the traders. The people liked the funny toy made so much that they immediately bought it, and, in addition, ordered another batch.

There is another belief. According to him, an unknown resident of Sergiev Posad carved a doll from wood, which was 9 inches in size. It was made from a block of linden. Taking his creation with him, he went to the Lavra, to the merchant Erofeev. The merchant, without hesitation, agreed to sell the doll and placed it in his shop as decoration. However, a few minutes later he was approached by a buyer who immediately purchased the doll and ordered another batch from the merchant.

Which of the legends presented is true is not known. However, it was from this time that the craft of carving toys from wood began to develop, which later began to be called Bogorodsk toys.

How did the craft develop?

The history of this fishery is very interesting. The majority of the peasant population living in the village of Bogorodskoye and Sergiev Posad was engaged in carving. However, all the carvers were completely dependent on the buyers who traded in Sergiev Posad. It was for them that the peasants carried out orders for cutting out toys. Sergiev's trade consisted of buying unprocessed toys from peasants. Subsequently, the resulting material was processed, signed and sold.

The history of this fishery is very interesting.

The dawn of Bogorodsk craft dates back to the 19th century. Among the carvers at this time, the most famous were F. S. Balaev, A. N. Zinin, A. Ya. Chushkin. The following important dates for the formation of needlework were associated with these people:

• in 1913, under the leadership of the listed masters, an artel workshop was founded, as a result of which the Bogorodsk toy received complete independence and was freed from buyers;
• since 1923, a school has been organized at the artel, which teaches children from the age of 7 years old how to cut out funny figures from wood;
• Since 1960, the artel has acquired the status of a factory.

It is interesting that the artistic carving factory was formed in the year of the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Bogorodsk toy.

Gallery: Bogorodskaya toy (25 photos)

How carved figures were made in Rus': Bogorodsk toy (video)

Bogorodskaya wood carving

Folk crafts of the village of Bogorodskoye are based on the use of soft wood. Mainly linden, alder, and aspen are used to make toys. This choice is due to the fact that the soft structure of the wood greatly facilitates the work of the master, and, therefore, speeds it up. Linden logs are prepared in advance and undergo a 4-year drying process using a special technology. Due to such a long preparation of materials, their procurement is carried out continuously. The finished logs are sent for cutting, after which special blanks fall into the hands of the craftsmen.

The carver marks out the design using a template and then begins cutting out the shape of the toy. During the cutting process, a specific Bogorodsk knife is used, as well as chisels. The master cuts out individual parts of the toy, after which they are sent to a special workshop and assembled there. Painting of blanks is carried out on final stage. Sometimes a carved toy is not painted. In this case, it is simply varnished and allowed to dry thoroughly. It is quite possible to make such toys in senior group kindergarten. Pictures for the sample can be printed ready-made.

Main Features

One of the symbols of Bogorodsk craft is a toy placed on a moving bar “Blacksmiths”. It was invented more than 300 years ago and consists of interestingly carved figures of a man and a bear, who take turns hitting an anvil. The toy is activated by the movement of the slats relative to each other.

One of the symbols of Bogorodsk craft is a toy placed on a moving bar

Another famous craft is “Chickens”. Her distinctive feature is the bar and balance that sets the structure in motion. As a result of the movements performed, the birds begin to peck the grain one by one. The plots of such toys are not accidental, because the peasants drew most of them from their own lives, as well as folk tales. It was in them that the heroes were: a bear, a simple village man, birds.

Interestingly, to this day, modern masters preserve these peasant traditions. For their skill and traditions, modern masters have been repeatedly awarded gold medals at exhibitions held in Paris, Brussels, and New York.

How to make a Bogorodsk bear with your own hands?

One of the symbols of the Bogorodsk toy is a bear.

You can make it yourself from the following materials:

• linden block;
• chisel;
• knife;
• axe.

One of the symbols of the Bogorodsk toy is a bear

In order to make a Bogorodsk bear, you must follow the instructions:

1. The first step is to find a piece of linden with a minimum number of knots. These elements can not only spoil the appearance of the product, but also make it fragile. The tree should be cut at winter period, since at this time it has the least juice.
2. The log is placed in the air under a canopy and dried for 2-3 years. The bark is left in the form of rings only on the edges of the log. This is necessary to ensure that the wood does not crack during drying.
3. The finished log is sawn into logs.
4. A suitable size block is cut from the chock using an ax.
5. Using knives, the product is given general outline: the bear’s head, its body, and the direction of its paws are outlined.
6. Then, using a chisel, the hair on the paws is cut through. It should be pointing down.
7. Then, indentations are made along the perimeter of the paws in order to give the toy the outline of an animal and make it three-dimensional.
8. Then the hair on the body is cut through. This is done with free movements using a chisel in the direction from top to bottom.
9. The last stage in the formation of a bear is considered to be cutting out its muzzle. To do this, with a straight horizontal movement of the knife, you should mark the animal’s nose, and then its length, cutting off the excess.
10. A bevel is made from the nose upward, where the eyes are cut out using a chisel.
11. Ears are formed on the head using a thin chisel. The neck deepens, and then the head becomes covered with hair. You should use a slightly smaller chisel on it than for processing the body.

The completed carving must be varnished. For these purposes, it is necessary to use wood varnish.