Exquisitely carved wooden
sculptures, toys and figures come from the ancient settlement of
Bogorodskoye (pop. 9000) where master wood carvers handed down their
traditions over many generations. The village was formerly known as
Medvezhy Ugol (Bear Corner) because of the thick woods
surrounding it. Peter the Great played with wooden toy soldiers made here over 300 years ago. Simple and fascinating, the
action of a twirling wooden ball on a string makes the bear (a favorite
character, but not an exclusive one) perform complex actions, such as masterfully juggling colored balls. Some of the toys are
activated by a push-button action.
These carvings are prized by
collectors young and old. One final note: why are the carvings seldom
painted? One good reason is that the soft white wood provides a natural warmth that painted wood does not.
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