Political and Royal Gallery: page 6

Russian Dolls (“matryoshka” dolls, or nesting dolls) consist of a wooden figure which separates, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside. In turn, there is another figure inside of it, and so on. The number of nested figures is traditionally at least five, but can be much more.

Modern artists have created many new styles of nesting dolls, often for the tourist trade. Here are some we have picked up on our travels. The British Prime Ministers set at the top is particularly fine and well painted, with lovely little touches, like Maggie's handbag and Union Jack flag, Harold Wilson's famous pipe, and Winston Churchill's "V for Victory" sign. Disraeli is less than 1" high. We have never seen another set like this one.