Dolls In Dolls · Est. 2006 · Australia’s largest dedicated store
The art of dolls in dolls — Russia’s greatest folk tradition
4,000+ authentic Russian nesting dolls, hand-painted by master artisans from the villages where the tradition was born. Every doll holds another world within.
Know your dolls
What are dolls in dolls?
Nesting dolls, matryoshka, or babushka?
All three names describe the same beloved object. Matryoshka (матрёшка) is the traditional Russian name, from the Latin mater — mother. Babushka (бабушка) means grandmother, and has become the everyday term in Australia. Nesting dolls describes what they do: each figure opens to reveal another, smaller doll inside — dolls within dolls, all the way down.
How are they made?
Each doll is turned from linden wood on a lathe, sanded, primed, and hand-painted by artisans — often across multiple generations of the same family. The painting always begins on the innermost doll and works outward, so each piece fits precisely inside the next.
How many dolls nest inside each other?
Anywhere from 3 to 30. Our 7–30 piece sets offer a wonderful unboxing experience, while a classic 3-piece traditional makes a beautiful everyday collectible.
Are all nesting dolls Russian?
The genuine article is Russian — crafted in artisan villages like Semenov, Kirov, and Zagorsk. Many cheaper alternatives sold online are mass-produced in China or India. Every doll at Dolls In Dolls is authentically Russian-made, sourced directly from the workshops where the tradition lives.
Browse by style
Find your perfect nesting doll
Every doll in dolls tells its own story. Browse by collection to find yours.
Vibrant hand-painted florals — from miniature sets to giant statement pieces. The most loved style in our collection.
Browse floral Traditional ClassicSemenov, Vyatka, Kirov, Nolinsk — authentic regional styles from Russia’s artisan villages. True matryoshka nesting dolls.
Browse traditional Museum QualityOne-of-a-kind limited editions, collector sets, and heirloom-grade masterpieces. The finest dolls in dolls ever painted.
Browse museum quality Celebrity BabushkasMovies, music, famous faces — pop culture reimagined as nesting dolls. A unique gift for any fan.
Browse celebrity Animals & BirdsFoxes, owls, cats, bears — delightful wildlife nesting dolls for collectors of all ages.
Browse animals DIY Craft BlanksUnpainted wooden nesting dolls to decorate yourself — a perfect Montessori craft project or creative gift.
Browse DIY Christmas NookSanta babushkas, snowmen, angels and festive nesting sets for the holiday season.
Browse Christmas Mini & Tiny NestersThe same craft, the same care — but small enough to sit on a fingertip. A marvel of woodturning precision.
Browse miniCurator’s picks
Stories inside stories
Three collections that capture the spirit of what makes dolls in dolls so extraordinary.
The rarest nesting dolls in our collection. Each one painted over weeks by a single artisan — fairy tales, folk heroes, and scenes from Russian village life rendered in extraordinary detail.
II Regional tradition Semenov — Russia’s most iconic styleThe bold red-and-gold Semenov style has defined the matryoshka nesting doll for over a century, originating in the Nizhny Novgorod workshops still active today.
III Tiny wonders Mini & Tiny Nesting TreasuresDolls in dolls at their most astonishing scale. Each tiny figure opens to reveal the next — hand-painted with the same care as our largest pieces.
“By shopping here, you’re helping keep our little family-run magic alive.”
— Natasha & Masha, Your Babushka Elves · Est. 2006
A tradition 130 years in the making
Where dolls in dolls come from
The first matryoshka nesting doll is believed to have been created around 1890 near Moscow, inspired by a Japanese nesting figure. Within a decade they had captured the imagination of the world — and the finest examples still come from the same Russian villages today. Each region has its own signature palette, pattern, and personality.
At Dolls In Dolls, we source directly from these workshops — so every doll you receive carries an unbroken chain of craft. No imitations. No compromises.
Each doll within a doll is turned from linden wood, sanded, primed, and handed to the painter — who may spend weeks on a single collector piece. The innermost doll is always painted first, working outward, so every figure fits precisely inside the next.
The making of a matryoshkaEvery doll in dolls we stock is genuine Russian-made — hand-painted by artisans, sourced directly from origin workshops. No mass-produced imitations.
Each nesting doll arrives ready to gift — for birthdays, weddings, Christmas, or simply because. Gift vouchers also available.
Standard delivery is always free. Choose Express Post for just $5.95. NZ $13. Rest of world $25. Fast dispatch from our Australian warehouse.
Over 10,000 customers have found their perfect nesting doll with us. Read the reviews →