russian-crafts.co.uk
FAQ Information

“At Russian Crafts we like to be as helpful as possible. This FAQ section attempts to answer any questions that you may have about buying our Russian Dolls.”

General Information

Matryoshka
This is the Russian name for Russian Dolls, it comes from the Latin mater, meaning mother, literally it means "little mothers".

Are the Dolls really Russian?
Of course they are. We couldn’t call them Russian Dolls if they were not authentic.

How do you open a doll?
You literially pull there heads off... If a doll is a bit tight, then pull the head a bit, then turn the doll round and pull again so you are kind of levering the head off. Do not try to unscrew the heads off as this can damage the doll. If unsure have a look at our instructions on the web site.

Are the Dolls CE compliant?
Basically as each doll is hand painted it is impractical to get CE certification for each doll. Therefore dolls are sold rightly as being gifts or collectables rather than as being a toy.

History

Where do the dolls come from?
The dolls come from The Golden Ring of Russia. This is the traditional doll-making centre of Russia, which is well known for the highest quality arts and crafts available in Russia.

Why is it called the Golden Ring of Russia?
Traditionally, The Golden Ring, which begins at Red Square in Moscow, was given its name as an ancient pilgrimage route spanning over 400 Kilometres in a north-easterly elliptical route ending where it begins.

The Tsars of Russia and all of their subjects would travel cross-country in order to take this pilgrimage. Where there are pilgrims, there must also be merchants to sell their wares. It is said that ‘The Road is Paved in Gold’. Hence the name of the Golden Ring emerged.

How long have the dolls been produced?
Albeit for the first original doll, hand created by the teamwork of Entrepreneur Manmatov, Children’s Illustrator Malutin, and Wood-turner Zvivodovich, The dolls went on to the world market after winning the bronze medal at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900.

I thought that the Red and Yellow Doll was the Original.
The Red and Yellow Doll is actually the Official Doll of the Soviet Union rather than The Original Seriev Posad design. The red and yellow is known as the Semionov Doll, which comes from a city of its own name in the Novgorod region of Russia, and was produced from around about 1933-34 until the present day.

The reason many assume this to be the original is mainly due to the fact that it is factory produced by the hundreds of thousands every year. It is the doll that nearly everyone knows, as during the Soviet Period, it was the only design that was officially allowed to be produced as it was for the common good of the whole nation. To produce individual dolls for profit would be a capitalist venture and therefore against the entire ethos of soviet ideals.

Buying Russian Dolls

You can buy Russian Dolls directly from the web site or from our Collectors Catalogue, better still you could visit us at one of the many Events or Shows we attend throughout the year.

For a detialed listing of Shows and Events we attend,
please have a look at our show listing.

If you want to place an order for a Doll from either our Collectors Catalogue or from this web site, please phone us beforehand to ensure that your choosen Doll is currently available.

Do you have a shop, we can visit?
Yes, we have had a shop in the past - The Russian Shop of Worcester was our shop for 3 years, but over time we realised the best way to sell Russian Dolls was not to wait for customers to visit us, but for us to visit our customers by attending many of the National Events and Local Shows that go on throughout the year across the country.

For a detialed listing of Shows and Events we attend,
please have a look at our show listing.

How can we visit you to buy?
We always like to meet our customers, but unfortuantly as we are now a home-based business we do not have a show room to show you our dolls, so we prefer not to have unexpected visitors, so please do not just turn up on our door step!
It is always best to visit us and see us at one of the many shows we attend during the year, then you will be able to see our selection of Russian Dolls.

For a detialed listing of Shows and Events we attend,
please have a look at our show listing.

I am a collectors and would like to see your Connoisseur range Dolls
If you are particularly interested at looking at our current range of Connoisseur Matryoshka, please contact us so we can advise you on our current availabilty and possible arrangement to show you our range a private viewing. Alternately, please have a look at our show dates in case we are exhibiting at a show in your area soon.

For a detialed listing of Shows and Events we attend,
please have a look at our show listing.

Do you have a catalogue?
YES - We have recently produced a full colour 24-page Collectors Catalogue that illustrates over 350 different styles of dolls that we have available throughout the year.

The Collectors Catalogue is available priced at £2.95 inc p+p.

If you would like a copy forwarding to you, e-mail us or phone us to get a copy.

How do I Order?

You can use our on-line Ordering form, or if you prefer please ring us to discuss your requirements and have a chat at the same time:

Tel: +44 (0) 1902 344234

We would like to order, but don't know what to choose?
For first time buyers it is always daunting to choose a Russian Doll from our vast selection of over 350 different styles of Russian Dolls detailed on the web site or in our Collectors Catalogue.

If you are interested only in a specific Doll, take note of its product number and then contact us directly and we will see if we can match a doll similar to your choosen one from our current stock range.

I want to Order a specific doll
Dolls are individually produced, so it is not always possible to supply exactly the same Doll again as illustrated in our Collectors Catalogue or web site. However if the doll is one of our general available styles we should be able to send you one very similar. Please phone us first to make sure that this can be done.

What is your Minimum Order?
We do not have a minimum order, but please be aware that there is a minimum cost for postage and packaging. All our Russian Dolls are priced to include all p+p costs.

Do your Dolls come boxed?
Currently at the moment we do not supply dolls packaged in "nice fancy boxes", but we do ensure that Dolls are well boxed for postal delivery to ensure the safe delivery of you doll.

VAT - Value Added Tax
As we are UK VAT registered all our prices for dolls include VAT at 17.5%.
All International orders will be exempt from UK VAT.

Payments

How can I pay?
If you are unsure about buying on line, you can always phone us and pay by Credit Card over the phone, or alternately forward us a payment by a personnel cheque.

All postal payments are to be made in GB Pounds Sterling, either by Cheque, Credit or Debit Card,
with payment made clearly to:-

Russian Crafts

Please forward your order details and enclosed payment to:-

Russian Crafts

4 Church Villas, Vicarage Road, Penn Village,
Wolverhampton. West Midlands
WV4 5HU

Tel: 01902 344234

e-mail: info@russian-crafts.co.uk

Delivery

We attempt to process all orders subject to stock availability ASAP, thought this is not always possible due to demand or things we cannot foresee, or beyond our control.

Our Delivery firm
We currently post all our orders via ROYAL MAIL all Dolls are sent by Parcel Post with Class Recorded Delivery, unless otherwise specified.

Delayed Delivery?

I haven't received my order yet?
If you have placed an order and haven't received your order give us a call to find out what has happened to it.

As we attempt to process all orders ASAP if you haven't received your order within 14 days of order, please notifly us so we can make appropiate inquiries with the ROYAL MAIL.

Damaged Deliveries

The Parcel was badly damaged
On receiving the delivery please ensure that when you sign for the package you clearly print

"Packaging damaged on receipt - goods not checked"

Failure to do this will mean that the ROYAL MAIL will not accept resposibility for the damaged goods after you have signed for them.

I have received a broken Doll.
You shouldn't have - As we always attempt to ensure that all our goods are posted safetly, but accidents do happen that our beyond our control.

Please notifly us of any damages or shortfall within 7 days of delivery so that we can take appropiate action to rectifly your order.

Failure to contact us within 7 days of your delivery will unfortnately mean we cannot be held responsible for any shortfalls or damages.

We are sorry about this, but it is always good practise to check your delivery on receipt.

Faults or Returns

What do I do if a Doll appears to be faulty?
Obviously if there is an apparent fault with your purchase, please contact us first so that we can advise you on what we can do to make amends quickly for you.

However, before you do, please take time to read the following points in case there is a quick fix, especially if the doll appears to be stuck.

Why is the Doll supplied not the same as on the web site or catalogue?
All dolls are unique and different, so it is not possible to supply exactly the same dolls as illustrated on our web site or illustrated in our catalogue, specially when all Russian Dolls are handmade and painted by crafts persons.

There’s a mark in the paint
All dolls are handcrafted and painted, so expect small blemishes in the paint, if there is a hair from the painter’s brush on the doll - it goes to prove how authentically hand painted the doll is.

If you are unhappy with any of our Dolls we will of course make amends and replace the Doll for you.

I have a doll that is stuck
Sometimes you will find dolls that may not open, generally these can be quickly fixed.

All that has happened is that the varnish used to lacquer the dolls has stuck the top and the bottom halves of the doll together. To open the doll you will need to "Crack" open the doll, its a bit like opening a walnut!

Once you have tried it, it will seem easy. If you are unsure, just give us a call and we will help you.

If the doll is truely stuck we will of course forward a replacement or appropiate credit

Trade Inquiries

I want to order your Russian Dolls for my Shop
We are always pleased to receive TRADE inquiries, if you would like information on our TRADE range, then please contact us to discuss your requirements.

"A gift inside a gift
inside a gift..."