How did the Dymkovo toy come about? History for children and adults

The Dymkovo toy is one of the business cards not only of Vyatka Krai, where it is made, but of the entire Mother Russia. It has almost the same worldwide importance as a balalaika and a nesting doll. These dazzling white clay figures with bright 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 in a painted whistle. And, looking at this, you want to laugh and joke, because bright colors and contrasting pictures set on an extremely positive mood, as our contemporaries say. And our ancestors, who invented this miracle, would say that such a toy heart rejoices!

The technology of making these clay souvenirs originated in the Vyatka province (now the Kirov region), in the pottery settlement called Dymkovo, about 400 years ago. Here, a Dymkovo toy appeared . The goat, the rooster, the ram, the woman in a bright sarafan - initially, mostly women and animals served as models for future painted hand-made articles. Later, the stories expanded, there were male figures and children, carousels and whole sculptural groups. Manufacturing technology was inherited. At first, this fishery was a family affair, and later they were only occupied by women.

Holiday "Whistler"

The impetus for the emergence of these unique figures was the celebration of "Whistler". It was for this holiday that the Dymkovo toy was made. History, for children and adults, is not without interest, so it tells about the origin of this tradition.

We began to celebrate this day in memory of those killed in 1418 by Vyatches and Ustyugans. At first, every year they celebrated the triune for the dead. Then it evolved into folk festivities, accompanied by a whistle from clay whistles. For this holiday, local craftsmen have also learned to make bright and vociferous figures, which later became known as the "Dymkovo toy". The story, for children and their cheerful whistling began, was continued, because these whistles also fell in love with adults. And later they were added toys.

In the late nineteenth century, the production of Dymkovo toys ceased. And only in the thirties of the twentieth century it revived again.

The technology by which the Dymkovo toy was made

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

They made them from red clay, then dried (for 20-25 days), and then in the oven they burned. Finished figurines were covered with chalk, diluted with cow's milk, painted with egg colors, supplemented with rhombuses from potali (imitation of gold). Traditional colors: bright red, yellow, blue, green. Figure - geometric (circles, rhombuses, strips, cells) with the addition of floral motifs. To make the colors brighter, the painted toy was greased with a beaten egg.

The Dymkovo toy today

Today the ancient Vyatka fishery is widely known and popular in our country and abroad. For us it is the same symbol of the homeland as Gzhel, Palekh, Khokhloma. In the center of the city of Kirov there is a sculptural composition "Family" depicting toys that have made famous these places. In 2011, a museum was opened, the main and only theme of which was the Dymkovo toy. Dance with the same name is placed in children's and adult dance groups throughout Russia.

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