Diveevo toy is a relatively young phenomenon. It appeared in the 1990s and, unlike traditional Russian toys, does not have pagan roots. The very place of its origin — the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery — imparted a distinct Orthodox character and a turn toward religious subjects. In the clay figurines the aesthetics of folk crafts and contemporary "naive art" are thus combined. The chief artisan and founder of the Diveevo toy tradition, Natalia Grigoryevna Krushinskaya, studied folk toys, apprenticed with many masters across Russia, experimented and ultimately developed her own style. The very first Diveevo toy was a figure of an angel.
Among the popular themes are Orthodox holidays, the image of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, angels, children, trees, and Russian folk tales. In addition to figurines and whistles, artisans create candlesticks, little bells, caskets and multi-figure compositions, the so-called "story hills."
Natalia Grigoryevna speaks of her work this way: "When I touch the clay, I am in a special state of expectation of meeting a miracle, akin to a new life passing into eternity. It is important to me that this new life evokes kind feelings in the viewer."
Diveevo toy has existed and developed for thirty years, and during that time it has acquired a recognizable specificity: techniques for rendering human faces and animal muzzles, as well as characteristic ornaments, have been formed. The pieces are typically tri-colored, which is dictated by the use of different types of local clay.
In the 19th century deposits of white clay were discovered in the vicinity of Diveevo. In the 1940s a pottery ware craft was organized in the village of Bolshoye Chrevatovo. Technically, toy production is largely similar to pottery making. The clay is mined, cleaned and softened for greater plasticity, then modeling begins. After that the toys are warmed in a muffle kiln and fired for ten hours at a temperature of 950°C. The color range of Diveevo clay is unique: from white-lilac to orange and dark burgundy. The artisans create their works without dyes and glazes, adding only relief decoration. In addition, there is always the effect of unpredictable firing. Relief is achieved by various appliqués, incising patterns, markings and graphic drawing. Often, besides professional tools, ordinary household items like a marker cap are used. On the reverse side of each piece the artisans leave a kind send-off: a brief phrase from Scripture or a bit of folk wisdom.
"If you love a clay toy, you must not forget that it will be played with. A toy should provoke the desire to take it in your hands, turn it, stroke it," says Natalia Grigoryevna.
The clay toys are created by the author in small series. Some images are beloved and popular, some are made only once as experiments. Each time the author selects new decoration, new strokes to the image, and as a result a unique toy appears. The ability to combine elements gives the master considerable creative freedom.
Story hills are multi-figure compositions on a single base-platform. These can be fairy-tale plots on the lids of vessels, on the surfaces of candlesticks or bells. Sometimes the base is a hemisphere, which gives the composition additional volume. A popular image is the Chudo-Yudo Fish-Whale, on the arched back of which many characters may be placed.
Natalia Grigoryevna's favorite theme is the Paradise Garden. This can be an image of only trees, none of them identical: they are monumental, softly pastel in color, with unusual decorative elements. Adam and Eve at the moment of the Fall may also be depicted in the Paradise Garden, and they are shown delicately: the bodies of the figures are not visible, they shyly hide among branches and tall grasses.
Clay trees are the fruit of many years of experience and the artisan's imagination. They are decorated with embossing or modeled ornament, usually circles of different shapes placed along the whole lower edge or only on the front side; often some plant motif rises upward from them.
Flowers are clay figurines of various forms, glued to a base using slip (a special colored clay); their variations are endless. Lines on them are applied with an ordinary toothpick. Dots are made using the handle of a brush. Wooden tools are used because wood sticks less to soft clay. The final touch in creating a tree is an inscription on the reverse side, most often kind wishes, proverbs and sayings.
Diveevo toy is more than a set of artistic techniques. The artisans strive to invest their works with special love, warmth and kindness. Thanks to stylistic uniformity a single world emerges in which adults and children, birds, beasts and fish live; trees and flowers grow; there is both snow and heat; there is room for both fairy tales and biblical narratives. At the same time the compositions are free of didactic severity, made with gentle humor, joyful and amusing. They make room for celebrations. The most frequent theme of this kind is the bright holiday of Christmas.
Diveevo Toy
Diveevo Toy
Diveevo Toy
Diveevo Toy
Diveevo Toy
