How the Dymkovo toy appeared. History for children and adults

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Dymkovo toy is one of the visiting cards not only of the Vyatka region, where it is made, but of the whole of Mother Russia. It has practically the same world significance as the balalaika and matryoshka. These dazzling white clay figurines with bright and unique patterns win the heart of the one who sees them once and for all.

Dymkovo toy. History

For children, there is no greater joy than whistling into a painted whistle. And, looking at this, one wants to laugh and joke, because bright colors and contrasting drawings set one in an extremely positive mood, as our contemporaries say. And our ancestors, who invented this miracle, would say that the heart rejoices at such a toy!

The technology for making these clay souvenirs originated in the Vyatka province (now the Kirov region), in a pottery settlement called Dymkovo, about 400 years ago. This is where the Dymkovo toy appeared. A goat, a rooster, a ram, a woman in a bright sundress - initially, mostly women andanimals served as models for future painted crafts. Later, the plots expanded, male and children's figurines, carousels and entire sculptural groups appeared. Manufacturing technology was inherited. At first, this craft was a family affair, and later it was exclusively women.

Whistle Party

The impetus for the emergence of these unique figurines was the celebration of the "Whistle". It was for this holiday that the Dymkovo toy was made. The story, interesting for children and adults, tells about the origin of this tradition.

We started celebrating this day in memory of the Vyatchans and Ustyuzhans who died in 1418. At first, every year they celebrated a feast for the dead. Then it turned into a folk festival, accompanied by whistling from clay whistles. For this holiday, local craftsmen got the hang of making bright and vociferous figurines, which later received the name “Dymkovo toy”. The story, which began for children and their merry whistles, was continued, because adults also fell in love with these whistles. And later toys were added to them.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the manufacture of Dymkovo toys ceased. And only in the thirties of the twentieth century it revived again.

Technology by which the Dymkovo toy was made

The story, told for children and adults, told about when and for what purpose painted clay figurines were made in Vyatchina, but it did not say how they were made.

Sculpted them fromred clay, then dried (for 20-25 days), and then fired in a kiln. Finished figurines were covered with chalk, diluted cow's milk, painted with egg paints, supplemented with potal rhombuses (imitation of gold). Traditional colors: bright red, yellow, blue, green. Pattern - geometric (circles, rhombuses, stripes, cells) with the addition of floral motifs. To make the colors brighter, the painted toy was smeared with a beaten egg.

Dymkovo toy today

Today, the ancient Vyatka craft is widely known and popular in our country and abroad. For us, this is the same symbol of the motherland as Gzhel, Palekh, Khokhloma. In the center of the city of Kirov, a sculptural composition "Family" is installed, depicting toys that glorified these places. In 2011, a museum was opened, the main and only theme of which was the Dymkovo toy. A dance with the same name is performed in children's and adult dance groups throughout Russia.

Let's hope that for many years we, our children and grandchildren will admire these cheerful and elegant figurines.