When we talk about Russian souvenirs, one of the most famous and iconic is undoubtedly the matrioshkas. However, these beautiful dolls are not the only souvenir that we will be able to take home from our trip to Russia. Since there is a huge list of souvenirs that we can buy, we could feel overwhelmed with the wide variety of options available.
However, we cannot take them all with us, so we will have to choose the most authentic one or ones, although in any case it would be a shame not to buy any. If you are about to take a trip to Russia and want to buy some special gifts for yourself or your loved ones, you may want to consider some of the following Russian souvenirs.
matryoshka
As we have mentioned, this is one of the most famous Russian souvenirs. So many see it as a must for all who visit Russia. His name is a diminutive form of the female name Matriona that was popular among the common people in the Volga basin.
These beautifully painted Russian dolls are actually a set of decreasing sizes, stacked one inside another. The number of nested figures usually varies from three to ten, but in some rare cases it can reach 50 and even more.
It is usually a female figure dressed in Russian peasant clothing wearing a headscarf. Although in Russian souvenir shops you can also buy modernized versions of these dolls depicting pop stars, celebrities and famous politicians.
Fedeskino lacquer boxes
Fedeskino lacquer boxes are among the most beautiful Russian handicrafts of the 20th century. So it is not surprising that it is one of the most special Russian souvenirs that you can take home.
Traditionally Fedeskino’s miniatures are copies of paintings, sentimental landscapes and genre scenes. They are painted in oil on a surface primed with bronze or aluminum powder, occasionally on mother-of-pearl. After painting the item is lacquered and polished. The first lacquer boxes appeared in Russia in the 18th century, but this work of art flourished in the 20th century after the Revolution.
Lomonosov imperial porcelain
In addition to being a very decorative item, it is one of the most exclusive Russian souvenirs to take home. Its origin dates back to 1744, when Empress Elizabeth founded in Saint Petersburg the works that later became famous as the Imperial Porcelain Factory, now named after Lomonosov.
If you like porcelain or fine arts, you must visit the Imperial Porcelain Factory Museum. There is an amazing shop there with a wide variety of hand-painted porcelain items spanning several centuries.
Birch bark crafts
This is a very popular Russian souvenir known since the Stone Age. Birch bark crafts are gracefully carved from the bark of silver birch trees from the forests of the middle region of Russia in Siberia. Silver birch is the national tree of Russia, and therefore a very important symbol of the country.
Decorative folk birch wood crafts such as hairpins, boxes, picture frames, backpacks, shoes and much more can be purchased. So this is definitely one of the perfect Russian souvenirs to take home.
russian fur hat
If you want to look as touristy as possible, but still cool at home, you should buy one. The Russian ushanka or shapka, but more commonly known in the rest of the world as the Russian fur hat, is a nice fur hat with ear flaps, which will keep you quite warm during the winter.
This hat was very popular during the Soviet Union, and still is. Nowadays, it has earmuffs that can be tied on the chin to protect the ears and neck from cold or fixed.
Gzhel pottery
If you want something more elegant, the famous Gzhel ceramics should be one of the first Russian souvenirs you should buy to take home. This beautiful style owes its name to the town of Gzhel, where these ornamental elements have been produced since the beginning of the 19th century.
Gzhel pieces are created from smooth white porcelain, each carefully decorated by hand with a bright blue trim or floral pattern. Interestingly, the ornament’s distinctive sky-blue color appears thanks to the addition of cobalt to the porcelain.
Since Gzhel ceramics come in various forms, from simple teacups and bowls to elegant watches and earrings, you can easily choose the perfect gift.
Podstakannik
If you want to surprise your family or friends, among the Russian souvenirs you should buy is the podstakannik.
Podstakannik is a tea glass holder that originated in the late 18th century when tea drinking became a popular culture in Russia. Produced during Soviet times, today it is still used among many Russians to hold a glass, especially at home. The Podstakannik may look like a strange metallic object, but it is not. Beautifully designed with Russian figures and key points of Russia, it can be very useful for hot tea and the perfect gift to take home.
Easter eggs
This is a very nice piece of art, but also expensive, if you buy the original Fabergé. Easter eggs are popular in all Western countries, but in Russia they raise a special charm because they are associated with the luxury of pre-revolutionary Russia.
These elegant eggs are made from a wide variety of materials including wood, glass, porcelain, metal, ivory, and stone. Very famous are the Easter eggs made by the House of Fabergé with silver, gold and precious stones. Today you can buy Fabergé-style eggs in different sizes and prices both in the museum and in various shops.
Valenky
Valenki are traditional Russian winter boots made from genuine sheep’s wool. Traditionally borrowed from the Mongolian tribes, the Valenki are designed for walking in the snow during the cold winter. In fact, these Russian boots are known to be so warm and well-insulated that you can wear them without socks. Even Tsars and Tsarinas liked to wear Valenki in winter.
Buying a pair of these felt boots can be an interesting and useful gift straight from historical Russia, as they are key symbols of traditional clothing in Russia.
russian shawls
One of the most popular Russian handicrafts that can be found at any outdoor souvenir market, stall or shop is the Pavlov-Posad shawl. It’s a perfect gift from Russia that will be a must have in any woman’s wardrobe.
Known for their beauty and elegance throughout the world. Russian shawls are well-designed and colorful scarves made of cotton or wool, which a woman can wear around her neck or head. These scarves are a combination of old and modern Russian design concepts made by Russian craft painters in the Russian city of Orenburg and Pavlovo Posad.
These scarves can dress up a young lady’s outfit or make your grandmother look even cuter than usual. So definitely one of the perfect Russian souvenirs for any friend or relative of all ages.
amber jewelry
Famous for its magical healing properties, Russian amber is one more unique thing to add to your jewelry collection. Being a resting fossilized tree, these “honey” stones come in multiple tints, ranging from dark brown to lemon yellow.
Often prized higher than gemstones in ancient times, amber was commonly used as an adornment for clocks, ashtrays, chess sets, and decorative paintings. If you decide to buy one of the amber items in Russia, we recommend that you buy it from legitimate stores to avoid fake copies.
Khokhloma
The Khokhloma brand is known and loved in literally every corner of the world. Khokhloma is a traditional Russian craft painting, which originated in the 17th century in the Nizhniy Novgorod area of Russia. Decorative painting is applied on a black, red or gold background and covered with lacquer.
This Russian souvenir can be easily recognized by its main design, which is large red berries amid bright yellow-gold foliage on a dark background. Made of wood and porcelain, it has kitchen utensils and crockery in the Khokhloma style.
samovar
A samovar is a device traditionally used to heat and boil water to make tea. Every Russian family has a Samovar as it is undoubtedly one of the most popular symbols of Russia. You may have seen it in a Russian movie, read a Russian classic, or even heard a song.
Basically, this is a heated metal container that is traditionally used to heat and boil water in Russia. Nowadays, Russian samovars are often replaced by different kettles, but they are still popular due to their cultural identity, which creates a very special party atmosphere. Buying a samovar would be like taking home a piece of ancient Russia.