Russian clay toy has been part of the life of the people for many centuries. The art of making such gizmos and craft traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. These, it would seem, trinkets are the embodiment of beauty, work and lifestyle of the Russian people.
The history of the origin of clay toys
On the territory of our country, archaeologists have found the most ancient clay toys dating back to the second millennium BC. They were rattles, various utensils and small clay semblances of a tool. During excavations (Moscow, Ryazan) , toys of a later origin were found. They were of cult significance and were made in the form of figures of people, birds, horses. These toys were created by molding from clay and subsequent firing in a furnace. Sometimes they were decorated with paintings and covered with glaze.
The history of clay toys has developed rapidly. Its production in the 17-18 centuries. growing rapidly. Figures began to be made specifically for sale at spring fairs. Clay is a plastic and soft material. She was suitable not only for the formation of dishes. Various whistle toys, images of people, birds, animals, rattles (rattles) and much more were molded from it. Each master had his own style and manner of sculpting and decorating the product. Under Alexei Mikhailovich, as a souvenir and gift, such gizmos willingly began to buy the royal court.
At that time, clay toys sculpted everything, from small to large. For the most part, they were engaged in this in the autumn-winter season, when there was plenty of time free from rural concerns. To this day, a folk clay toy does not lose its relevance. Created in all kinds of variations of form and color, it has a magical ability to bring comfort, warmth and good mood to the house.
Clay folk toy: differences in origin and method of manufacture
Toys can differ in the composition of clay taken for crafts, and in the manner of modeling characteristic of one or another type of product. Images made of oily clay are best sculpted. It is mainly used for making Filimonovo toys. Each product is characterized by certain shapes and colors, which depend on the type of clay found in a particular area, and its plastic properties.
Clay toys made earlier represent a special branch of pottery, which has survived to this day. Expressiveness and simplicity are the main criteria for sculpting these products by craftsmen.
Russian ceramic toys are very famous : Abashevsky, Kargopolsky, Dymovskaya, Filimonovskaya and others. This craft has gained distribution in many countries of the world.
Clay toy Kargopol: revival story
These crafts owe their name to their place of origin, the city of Kargopol, Arkhangelsk region, and more precisely to the villages around it. It was there that at first the peasants created toys from the most accessible material in these places - clay.
The history of the revival of this industry is quite interesting. In relation to other types of craftsmanship, the revival of which was organized in Soviet times, the art of the Kargopol toy in Russia at some point was practically lost. However, some product samples were saved and brought to our days thanks to Ulyana Babkina. She was able to give a second life to the once extinct kind of craft. Clay toys, photos of which are presented below, reflect all the individuality and characteristics of their places of origin.
Features of the appearance of the Kargopol toy
Kargopol crafts, in comparison with their other relatives, are distinguished by their rather archaic appearance. Nevertheless, they are quite recognizable by their type, style and mural.
Plots are divided into 2 categories:
- Plot toys demonstrating a rural way of life, as well as recreating fairy tales. The subjects can be completely different - “Girl at the Laundry,” “Fishermen,” “Three Horses,” and the like.
- The old types are all kinds of animals, a polkan (a man with a horse’s body), a shoreline (a woman with pigeons in her hands).
The most important ritual theme of these toys is the "mother-woman", the prototypes of which are the life-giving forces of the "mother - damp earth" and the sun. Among the favorite Kargopol masters is the female figure "Bobka".
Modern masters can come up with new plots while preserving the signs of the Kargopol toy. This only multiplies the already rich abundance of images of such crafts.
If you follow all the traditions, a painted toy is a whitened figure, decorated with different colors, but without any gloss and extra details. Despite the variety of colors, shades, including bright ones, look quite muffled. Face painting is quite simple.
Inherent patterns
Painting clay toys is quite simple, however, it takes its origin from ancient times. Here you can see rectangles, ovals, rhombuses, strokes, stripes, specks, oblique crosses. The set of colors consists mainly of brown, ocher, black, green, brick red and blue. Less commonly, silver and gold paints are added.
Clay whistles: their meaning and beliefs
Clay whistle toys began to be perceived relatively recently as children's fun. Previously, in the days of pagan gods, these figures were magical. They were used to scare away evil spirits.
Pinezhsky's conspiracy says that a toy is capable of luring diseases onto itself. Various whistles had the same goal. They were often sculpted in the form of various animals and birds, which, in general, were the traditional theme of Russian folk toys.
In the Tula region, there were beliefs that whistles could remove damage from a person and return it to the one who sent it. These or other types of figures could relieve various ailments. As a rule, they were placed opposite the window to protect the child from evil and disease.
In the 19th century, an ancient rite was held in Vyatka using a toy whistle, designed to expel evil forces and attract good ones. This holiday was called "Whistle" or "Whistler." These days, adults and children whistled in clay whistles, indulged in dancing and fun.
What is the individuality of clay crafts?
Considering all the works of early and modern masters, including foreign ones, one can see a plentiful variety of whistle crafts. It depends on many factors, including a birdie - a tool for piercing holes in a toy. In length, all tools are almost the same - from 80 mm to 100 mm. However, the cross section can be very diverse - round, oval or rectangular.
The birdhouse of each master is his personal tool, made by himself, so the technique is different for everyone, and the result, accordingly, differs from others. Nevertheless, methods for making whistles are known without any devices where only hands are used.
The value of crafts in the modern world
Making clay toys is an individual process for each person. Such classes in school circles are very useful. With their help, you can arouse interest and love for world culture in children, develop hand motility, artistic taste, train perseverance, perseverance and patience.
Properties of clay applicable for making toys
It is easy to guess that clay toys, including whistles, are made of clay. In its natural form, it can be found in various colors, but usually after firing, it changes its color to white or red. Therefore, they began to call it “white-burning” or “red-burning”.
Clay deposits
Red-burning clay is the most common. It is usually found on the shores of lakes and rivers, ravines and slopes. It can also be found on construction sites when digging pits.
But you should know that natural or living clay is not always suitable for the manufacture of crafts, as it often contains all kinds of impurities - small stones, sand and the like. Clay with a sand content of up to 5% is called "oily", and one in which the proportion of sand reaches 30% is called "lean".
To make a high-quality whistle, you should take medium-fat material (10-15%).
Preparation of material for work
Clay dough, or ceramic mass, is a mixture that has undergone a certain technological process, after which it is ready for the manufacture of pottery. On an industrial scale, special machines are used for this - presses, screens, ball mills, etc. But to make it in small quantities, the whole process can be simplified.
Technology Stages:
- Collect clay in a quarry. A small lump of material should be pre-baked in the furnace to make sure it is suitable for use.
- On a clean surface, lay the lumps and dry.
- Then grind them and remove the existing impurities of chips, stones, blade of grass, etc.
- In the crushed mass add water at the rate of three parts of the liquid and one part of clay. Stir the solution thoroughly.
- Let the mass settle until the heaviest part (stones with sand) settles to the bottom. The remaining clarified water should be carefully drained.
- Scoop out the middle layer of clay and immerse it in a plaster bath or bucket.
- Allow the mixture to dry to a thick dough, then during operation it will not stick to your hands.
- Knead clay to remove excess air bubbles.
- The quality of the material can be checked as follows: roll a bundle with a diameter of 15-20 mm, bend it slowly in half. If the bend remains smooth, without cracks or practically without them, then this mass is suitable for making whistles.
- For reliable preservation, place the resulting mass in a plastic bag and close it tightly. In this form, clay can persist for several months. In a dried up lump, you can add a small amount of water and knead it thoroughly.
If your plans are to make just a couple of whistles, try to use the material available to you without the above preliminary processing. Clay from some deposits is already ready for use. If it is not possible to prepare the material in the above ways, then it can be purchased at enterprises engaged in the manufacture of ceramic products, in art shops or online stores.