In the heart of Russia, not far from a city called Odoev, located in the Tula region, is the village of Filimonovo. According to traditions and legends, back in the time of Ivan the Terrible, pottery craft appeared here. A potter, Filimon, appeared in the possessions of Prince Vorotynsky. It is believed that he was able to discover deposits of very high quality clay in these places. Locality named after this man, who was most likely an escaped convict. We invite you to get acquainted with such folk crafts as Filimonov painting, patterns, ornaments, and try yourself as Filimonov masters.

History of the fishery

This amazing art has been passed down from generation to generation for several centuries. When did Filimonov painting appear? The story goes that there are two dates that are considered to be the beginning of the intricate painting. According to the first version, the fishery developed in the middle of the 19th century. This version is supported by two weighty arguments at once. Firstly, such a time is indicated by the traditional pattern used for the headdresses of soldiers and ladies. It was fashionable in the 1850s and 1860s. In addition, around this time, inexpensive aniline paints appeared, which were used for painting.

But these facts are not entirely conclusive. It is impossible to even imagine that urban fashion would come to the distant Tula village so quickly. And in general, the caps, top hats and “amazons” used in the design of Filimonov’s toys were interpreted too freely. And resin paints also couldn’t “get” to the village so quickly. And painting of toys could be done natural dyes- mineral or organic.

If you believe another version, Filimonovo painting came to Filimonovo from the Paleolithic! Pottery shards discovered in Odoevsky places can be dated back to the 9th-11th centuries. But on these fragments there are those drawings and signs that continue to be used to decorate toys from Filimonovo today.

The fact that the origins of the craft go back much deeper than the 19th century is indicated by the scenes - women holding children, birds, livestock. This is also confirmed by the elements of painting: stars, diamonds, stripes. All these elements go back to pre-Christian times. Painting the Filimonovskaya toy has many secrets that the craftswomen passed on to their children and grandchildren.

Toys with Filimonov painting have survived everything: wars and famine. They were with people, as they say, in joy and sorrow. These toys were always sculpted and painted - only their number changed. They started sculpting in late autumn, drying the figures on a Russian stove. February and March were considered perfect timing for firing them. And in Lent began exciting process paintings. Traditionally, the residents of Filimonovo sold these whistle toys at Easter fairs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were only three craftswomen who did not give up their craft. The reason for this was the small number of toys produced. The peak of popularity of painting came in post-war years. In the sixties, the government of the country encouraged the development of folk crafts as best it could. Entire production artels and workshops were subordinate to the Ministry of Local Industry. Despite their widespread use, the toys have gotten worse. The reason is that the main emphasis was not on the quality of the figures and painting, but on the quantity of objects.

Ancient images of Filimonov toys

The duck is the main symbol of water in Filimonov painting. It was with this image that learning to sculpt toys began. Ducks were used as a talisman for children.

The horse or the Rider on a horse was considered a symbol of Veles - the sun god. This deity was worshiped by the pagans.

The rooster is the main keeper of the family hearth.

The Ox, Ram, Goat and Deer acted as a talisman against evil spirits. Long necks, painted in three-color rings, helped with this.

A cow is a symbol of wealth in the house.

A hen (chicken or duck) brought wealth and prosperity to the house.

The lady-bereginya was the prototype of the only female deity - the goddess Mokosh. Traditionally, this lady was depicted with a baby in her right hand or with a duck under her left. Such a talisman symbolized great family happiness.

Later images of Filimonov figurines

Later, other images appeared: a dancing couple (a soldier and a lady) called Lyubota, a prototype of the fairy-tale Ivan, who managed to catch the Firebird, a Soldier with a chicken, a Soldier with a horse - a symbol of everyday life in the village. And when the production of samovars began on Tula land, another image appeared, called the Tea Party.

Features of toys from Filimonovo

The main distinguishing feature of all Filimonov whistles is the absence of patterns. The master takes a single piece of clay, on which there are no small parts marked. Traditionally, female characters hold a baby or a bird in their hands. Men most often have thick boots - heavy and clumsy.

If we talk about Filimonov’s animals, then all the figures have similar elements. The body of almost all animals is very elongated and graceful. A horse can be distinguished from a bull or lamb only by the presence or absence of horns or by their shape.

The meaning of patterns and ornaments

What can tell us about the time when the Filimonov painting appeared? Elements of painting! These ornaments have their roots in paganism. Proof of this, for example, is the intersecting lines enclosed in a circle - a symbol of the pagan sun god. In general, all patterns are designed to remind us of the inextricable connection between man and nature. Triangles are the earth, Christmas trees are any vegetation. Zigzags symbolize water. The painting of a Filimonovskaya toy is always unique - the ornament changes every time, the drawings have different colors and rhythms. Ancient beliefs say: each pattern carries extraordinary spiritual power that could protect a person from injustice and evil.

Filimonovskaya painting: color palette

Color is of particular importance in painting figurines, because both in ancient times and today, each shade carries its own meaning. Filimonov's craftsmanship is characterized by only three primary colors - red, yellow and green. Why them? The answer is simple:

• red color is a symbol of earth, human body, beauty, fortitude and fire;
• green speaks of the rebirth of life;
• yellow is the color of the sun and fire.

The peculiarity of Filimonovskaya clay is that when fired it acquires an impeccable white color. Therefore, there is no need to prime the surface before painting.

Filimonovsky cockerels

Let's look at the painting of the Filimonovsky cockerel. Traditionally, the chest of bettas is painted in one color - usually green or red. One color is also chosen for the head, but it can remain simply white. A simple pattern is applied along the contour of the cockerel: stripes, zigzags, drops, circles. Birds may have no eyes, or they may simply be sketchy.

Painting of human figures

Filimonovsky clay “people” look very elegant. The ladies wear colorful fluffy skirts, their gentlemen have colorful pants. Everyone's shirts are usually plain, the ornament is applied only around the perimeter - belts, sleeves and collars are decorated with patterns. The faces are left practically untouched - only the eyes and mouth are outlined with paint.

Painting technology

The first thing that is important to pay attention to is that the paints never mix. New color can be applied to whistles only after the previous layer has completely dried. What else is remarkable about Filimonov painting?

Elements of the painting begin to be applied with yellow paint. It is followed by elements of a crimson hue, completing the patterns with green paint. Stripes are taken as a basis, then they are supplemented with complex symbols. The main tool for painting is a pen. It can be duck or goose. The fact is that the brush leaves fluff on the clay, and the paint adheres worse with it. But the patterns made with a pen delight the eye with accuracy and brightness. Thanks to its simplicity, Filimonov painting for children can become a fun and useful way to spend time.

Choosing clay for toys

The painted figures amaze not only with their unique painting, bright colors and elegance, but also with their amazing clay! The usual one is not suitable for crafts; you need a special one - “bluebird”. It is mined in Filimonovo. It is very fatty and has high plasticity. However, during drying, cracks may appear on the product, so it is necessary to smooth the figures with your hands. The dried blue blank takes on a nondescript gray tint, and during firing the figurine turns white, ideal for such a craft as Filimonov painting.

Master class on Filimonov painting

The first thing the craftswomen do is yellow the toy. Using a wide brush (it is best to take No. 3), you need to apply yellow paint to the figure. You need to paint over individual parts of the body - a person or an animal. In addition, you can apply wide lines and circles. The part of the whistle that a person will subsequently touch with his lips should remain unpainted.

The next stage is applying crimson paint. Its craftswomen call it “raspberry”. Using brush No. 1, you need to apply patterns - herringbones and triangles, circles and straight lines.

The final step is greening. For this you will also need brush No. 1. The paint should be green or turquoise.

Painting classes in kindergarten

Elements of Filimonov painting for children are not particularly difficult. Therefore, it will be interesting for kids to engage in this creativity in the classroom. kindergarten. Of course, kids are unlikely to be able to sculpt a figurine from clay, but that’s not a problem! You can simply draw the silhouette of a traditional toy on a piece of paper.

For a lesson on the topic “Filimonov painting” in middle group An image of a horse, cat, or cockerel is suitable. The main goal of such a lesson is to get acquainted with folk art. The children will be able to familiarize themselves with the elements characteristic of painting and find out their meaning.

For the lesson you will need:

• poster with various elements of Filimonov painting;
• real whistles;
• horse templates with yellow elements already applied;
• cotton swabs or thin brushes;
• gouache red and green;
• palette;
• water jar;
• napkins.

How to conduct a lesson? You can use the following plan:

1. You can start by talking about folk crafts in Russia.
2. Then you need to look at the toys and let the kids whistle the whistles. It is important to help students understand what the elements depicted on the figures mean.
3. The next step is reading poems and riddles about these toys.
4. After all these steps, you can start painting the templates.
5. You can end the lesson with the fairy tale “The Rooster and the Paints,” authored by Vladimir Suteev.

Lesson "Filimonovskaya painting" in senior group slightly different from what is done with younger children. It is very important to carry out preliminary work: visit the exhibition where folk crafts are presented, try to make a Filimonov whistle yourself.

The goals of classes in the older group differ from those set for younger students. The children will have to improve their pattern making skills and develop their imagination. It is very important to teach children to take the initiative and select patterns on their own. What else does Filimonov painting teach? In kindergarten it will help develop fine motor skills and sensory sensitivity!

For the lesson you need to prepare audio recordings - Russian folk music, clay silhouettes of Filimonov whistles, yellow, red, green gouache. In addition, you will need brushes, a palette, napkins and jars of water.

The first thing to do is tell the children the history of the Filimonovo fishery. It is necessary to introduce the children to the features characteristic of these whistles. The next stage is getting to know the basic elements and patterns. It is important that children understand what exactly they are depicting in their work. By the way, it is best to paint figures while listening to Russian folk music.

Dymkovo and Filimonov painting: differences

It is difficult to confuse Filimonovskaya and Dymkovo paintings. The toys from Filimonovo are extremely simple and very conventional in their form. The ornaments here are simple. In addition, all Filimonov toys are always whistles, but Dymkovo ones are not.

Another important difference is that Dymkovo figurines are made from red clay, which when fired takes on a brick tint. Therefore, you can’t do without whitewashing before painting. Filimonovskaya clay becomes impeccably white during the firing process. The nature of the sculpting is also different. The Dymkovo toy is molded in parts, which are then assembled into a whole figurine. And Filimonovskaya is made from one piece of clay. In addition, the Dymkovo toy has more colors, there is also blue. Filimonovskaya is characterized by only three colors.

Filimonovsky fishery in our time

The unique Filimonov toy has gone through a long and difficult journey. At first it was a talisman, then a children's toy. Today it is a full-fledged work of art. Whistles are frequent guests at various fairs and exhibitions of arts and crafts. The uniqueness of this fishery lies in the fact that it has never been interrupted. Today, the traditions of Filimonov craftswomen are continued by young craftsmen from the city of Odoev.

By the way, here in 2009, thanks to the Administration of the Tula Region, the Tula Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Administration of the Odoevsky District, a museum of “pearls of folk art”, as the Filimonov toy is also called, was opened. In this museum you can take a closer look at the history of whistles, learn the names of craftswomen, and admire ancient toys.

Bogaitseva Sofia

This project traces the history of the Filimonov toy from its origins to the present day.

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PROJECT on Art “Ancient images in works of folk art. Connection of times." A PEARL OF FOLK ART. FILIMONOVSKAYA TOY. Completed by a student of the 6th grade of MKOU “Secondary School No. 15” Bogaitseva Sofia Supervisor: L.A. Sizonenko

Where did you come to us like this? Everything is simple, no tricky tricks. With a long neck and painted, For children's play and fun. I fell in love with you in early childhood - my grandmother was a craftswoman. You came to me by inheritance From beautiful people from the village. Distances are not scary for you. You are from the ancestors of distant times. These clay sculptures ring the bells of Rus'. N. Denisov

From history A monolithic image, sparse in detail: a narrow bell skirt smoothly transitions into a short narrow body and ends with a cone-shaped head, integral with the neck. The stinginess of the form is wonderfully compensated by the elegance and cheerfulness of the simple ornament: multi-colored strokes, spots, twigs, rosettes... Before us is the image of the Filimonovskaya young lady - a descendant of one of the oldest (according to some sources she is about seven hundred years old) toys in Russia.

Old Odoev

From history There is a village called Filimonovo in the Odoevsky district of the Tula region. According to one legend, it was named after Philemon’s grandfather, an escaped convict who founded the settlement. They say that grandfather was a potter “from God”, he made beautiful dishes and did not hesitate to sculpt whistles and simple toys from clay.

From history At first people were wary of him, he was a stranger after all, and he seemed strange. The eccentric started kneading clay. If he smears himself in it, he will be the laughing stock of the whole village. Only from that clay he made pots, as it turned out later, various makhotkas and other trinkets to amuse the children. But his crafts turned out to be necessary for water, milk and various kvass. He began to take his work to the fair in Odoev. Everything is in great demand, and they also ask: “Bring it,” and “Bring your whistles, dear man.” People gave him money for this. So, with this money, Philemon built himself a new mansion. Then the local men began to visit the fugitive and take an interest in his handicrafts. The whole village became infected with this craft - both old and young. The village began to heal and became famous in the area, especially for its whistle toys. But it turned out to be not an easy task. After all, special clay is needed to make toys - it’s called sinika.

From history It is officially believed that the toy industry originated in the mid-19th century. Those places are rich in special clay, “sinika”. Quite fat and flexible, it was ideal for pottery purposes.

THE ORIGINS OF THE FILIMONOV TOY Traditionally, male potters were involved in this. But they had wives and children, and there was also clay left, which the people's mind, greedy for creativity, immediately adapted for children's fun. This is how the division of labor occurred - men were engaged in serious pottery, and the production of toys, which quickly found demand and popularity in the area, was given to women's hands. The granddaughters and daughters of the craftswomen were involved in this interesting work from the age of seven. The girls, lovingly called “whistles,” were taught to sculpt figures from fat, plastic “sinica.” When drying, such clay is most susceptible to cracking, and it needs to be smoothed and leveled by hand during the drying process. From here, “technologically”, the elongated, long, somewhat disproportionate silhouettes of traditional Filimonov folk toys arise. Thanks to this, the figure becomes thinner and elongated, acquiring a surprisingly graceful shape. After firing, products made from such clay acquire an even white color that does not require subsequent priming. The toys made by the girls were sold at the fair, and a dowry was purchased with the proceeds. So, a good “whistle” also helped to become a rich bride.

The appearance of all these ladies, men with geese, and even the horses, deer, ducks and other living creatures themselves is quite primitive, skimpy on details and close to ancient primitive figurines, which were used more for religious purposes than for entertaining children.

Painting toys, symbols. It is worth paying attention to the painting. She has little color. To color the Filimonovskaya toy, crimson, yellow and green shades are used. The beauty and power of the Filimonov toy lies in pagan antiquity. Over the centuries, it has not lost any of its elements that characterize the life of the ancient Slavs. Expressed in simple patterns ancient symbolism peasant religion. The circle is the sun, the triangle is the earth, the fir trees are a symbol of vegetation and fertility. All patterns are reminiscent of the connections between man and nature. According to ancient belief, the symbols in the patterns carried spiritual power that could protect against evil and injustice.

WHAT IS THE MAIN THING IN A TOY The main thing in a toy is the whistle. In the tail of animals and birds. The young ladies have their whistles hidden in jugs, and the soldiers - in geese. With its help, the pagan ancestors scared away the devil, evil spirits. They whistled at it at funerals, they buried it in the grave along with the deceased.

The most popular shape for clay Filimonov toys are birds. Cockerels are the favorite whistles of craftswomen. For the ancient Slavs, the image of the Bird always symbolized spring. Birds are a sign of the resurrection of nature, the awakening of the earth, dawn, good harvest, happy family. They are messengers of the Mother Goddess - Earth and obligatory companions of female images.

CONNECTION OF TIMES The exhibition of the Odoevsky Museum of the Tula region presents both Filimonov toys and samples from other regions of Russia and even from abroad. The museum contains rare unique photographs and archival materials about the life and work of former and current masters. The compositions in the museum are successfully complemented by authentic peasant household items. And of course, in the museum you can not only see the finished toys, but also see the process of its creation, and if you wish, try your hand at it yourself. Take a lump of soft blue clay in your hands and you will feel its energy. Listen to her inner voice and breathe life into her by creating a horse, duck or rooster. Here you can see the mysterious animals A.F. Maslennikova, inspired clay dolls by L.G. Zaitseva, affectionate animals A.G. Karpova, whistles E.K. Evdokimova and other wonderful craftswomen. The folk toy is a significant phenomenon in Russian culture; it uniquely reflects the life, work and worldview of several generations of people.

The folk toy is a very significant phenomenon in Russian culture; it uniquely reflects the life, work and worldview of several generations of people. The Filimonovskaya whistle, which glorified its native village in our country and far beyond its borders, must be preserved for the future. Nowadays, the fishery is experiencing another wave of interest. Having gone through a long and difficult path from a myth-fairy tale to children's fun, the toy has now turned into an independent work of sculpture. At fairs and arts and crafts festivals, clay curiosities are now a traditional and welcome guest. According to the People's Master of Russia Elena Orlova: “This craft is unique in that it has never been interrupted. It is passed down from generation to generation.”

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Municipal government educational institution
"Chernyatinskaya secondary school No. 15"

Efremovsky district

Tula region

"Our cultural heritage is national treasure Russia."

Project (creative)

A pearl of folk art.

Filimonovskaya toy.

Completed by: Sofia Bogaitseva 6th grade

Head: Sizonenko Lyudmila Anatolyevna

Art teacher

D. Chernyatino 2015

1. Introduction

• Relevance of the selected topic
• Problem (idea)
• Project goal
• Tasks set for the implementation of the project
• Project type

1. Project stages and expected results

• Stage I – preparatory
• Stage II – research
• Stage III – practical
• Stage IV - final

1. Conclusions
2. Application

Relevance of the project:

Our national Russian decorative art has been famous for its traditions since ancient times. How did folk crafts originate in Rus'? Why did folk crafts begin to develop? What would I like to know about this? What would you like to learn? While completing the project, I set myself the task of not only answering all the questions, but also learning a lot of useful and interesting things.

Project problem

What is a Filimonovskaya toy? Souvenir? Children's toy? Magic item? It is sculpted in kindergarten and at school, it can be found in souvenir shops, seen in photographs, in magazines, and in folk art museums. The Filimonovskaya toy enters our lives under the brand name “traditional Russian folk”, but few people looked at it carefully and tried to understand the “zest” of the peculiar manner of painting and sculpting.

Project goal:

1. Get acquainted with the folk craft “Filimonovskaya toy”(the emergence of folk craft in Filimonovo, the main plots of the toy, what is important in the toy, why this form, the history of the craft, modern life toys).
2. Learn to identify means of expression: pattern elements, their color, combinations, coloring, alternation.

Project objectives:

1. Study the origins of the Filimonov toy.
2. Identify the variety of paintings, symbols, and colors.
3. To develop artistic taste, the ability to see the beauty and expressiveness of the figurative representation of life in toys of the distant past and the present.
4. Bring up interest in folk art and respect for the traditions of the people.

Project type:

Creative.

Forms of work:
1. Selection of literature about the folk craft “Filimonovskaya toy”, illustrations.

2. Examination of illustrations of the products of the Filimonov toy masters.
3. Reading poems about Filimonov’s toys.
4. Painting a toy.

Project stages

Stage I – preparatory

Select the necessary literature, illustrations, and visual aids.

Creation of the presentation “Filimonovskaya toy”.

Stage II – research

Find out the history of the origin of folk crafts in Rus'.

Study the history of the Filimonov toy and trace its development.

Study patterns when painting toys.

Stage III – practical

Apply knowledge about patterns when painting toys.

Draw sketches of toys.

Stage IV - final

Generalization of the results of the work.

Expected results:

Gain knowledge and skills on the topic of the project.

Be able to identify characteristic means of expressiveness, elements of pattern, color, and color combinations.

Be able to use knowledge about patterns when painting toys.

Be able to work consistently.

Cultivating artistic taste and hard work.

To prove that in our time, a toy made with your own hands can bring joy and be useful.

Conclusions:

A sufficient number of toys are sold in stores, but the most favorite is the one made with your own hands. It may not be so perfect, but children and adults like it.

The folk toy is a very significant phenomenon in Russian culture; it uniquely reflects the life, work and worldview of several generations of people. The Filimonovskaya toy, which glorified its native village in our country and far beyond its borders, must be preserved for the future. This is a very great and amazing thing about the genetics of this fishery. Transmitted and stored. I think a toy is needed, it brings joy.

This project turned out to be bright, educational, practical and effective.

Poems about the toy were read, the history of the toy and painting techniques were studied.

I believe that the project has achieved its goal.

Information and methodological support

1. Boguslavskaya I. Ya. Russian clay toy. - M.: Art, 1975.
2. P. I. Utkin, N. S. Koroleva. Folk arts and crafts. Moscow: Higher School, 1992.
3. Big Encyclopedic Dictionary. Filimonovskaya toy.
4. http://www.viktur.ru/regions/tula-region/filimonovo-3513-936.html
5. http://www.rukukla.ru/article/gigr/vid/filimonovckaa_igru6ka.htm
6. Photos from the site:http://www.filimonovo-museum.ru/toy.html
7. http://www.filimonovo-museum.ru/toy/history.html
8. http://www.71r.ru/novosti/kultura/921/
9. Poems from the site: http://www.comgun.ru/repair/4883-filimonovskaya-igrushka.html

Appendix No. 1 The origins of the Filimonov toy.
A toy is one of the colorful manifestations of folk and mass culture, its originality and colorfulness. The tradition of the art of making toys passes from generation to generation; Through the toy, knowledge about the world, life, work and beauty is transmitted. The toy can easily be called a folklore element. This type of ceramic product has been known to mankind since time immemorial; such clay products are found in many countries.
Russian clay toy tells us about the features of Russian folk art. Studying the folk toy, you can understand how closely its creators were connected with the land, nature, and village labor. In Russia, the production of clay toys reached its peak in the 18th-19th centuries, when the toy became available not only to the rich, but also to ordinary people.
Often the symbols and ornaments of toys or paintings can tell us a lot of interesting things without a single letter, much more than even written books. How can we not protect and preserve these unique works of art?
The Filimonovskaya toy is one of the oldest crafts of Russian clay sculpture, widely known and popular both in Russia and abroad.

In the very heart of Russia, not far from the ancient city of Odoev, Tula region, on the high bank of the Upa River stands the village of Filimonovo.
In ancient times (researchers write about the Upper Paleolithic era) in these places there were settlements of ancient people who used local clay to create ritual figures, this is confirmed by archaeological finds.
The fact that there is a pottery production in the village of Filimonovo was mentioned in 1871 in the Tula Provincial Gazette: “Residents of the suburban villages of the state department: Krasenok, Tatyeva, Filimonova, Nesterova, Apukhtina, in addition to arable farming, are engaged in carpentry and pottery...

The Filimonovskaya toy is over 700 years old.
Almost nothing is known about the history of the creation of the Filimonov toy. Local residents, when asked about its origin, answer that toys have been made in their village from time immemorial.
There is a beautiful legend about the potter Philemon. It is believed that it was he who gave rise to the history of the Filimonov toy.
In the village of the Anastasov Monastery, people lived poorly - the lands here were not very fertile, whatever grain they sowed, everything was frail, because there was clay all around, and it was amazingly colorful for everyone. Only in the local forests there were a lot of mushrooms and berries, and the Upa River spoiled the local people with excellent fish, there was enough for everyone. This is how those people lived.
One day a runaway man appeared in those places, they called him Filimon. At first people were wary of him, he was a stranger after all. And he turned out to be really strange. The eccentric started kneading clay. If he smears himself in it, he will be the laughing stock of the whole village. Only from that clay he made pots, as it turned out later, various makhotkas and other trinkets to amuse the children. AHis crafts turned out to be necessary for water, milk and various kvass. He began to take his work to the fair in Odoev. Everything is in great demand, and they also ask: “Bring it,” and “Bring your whistles, dear man.” People gave him money for this. So, with this money, Philemon built himself a new mansion.
Then the local men began to visit the fugitive and take an interest in his handicrafts. The whole village became infected with this craft - both old and young. The village began to heal and became famous in the area, especially for its whistle toys. But it turned out to be not an easy task. After all, special clay is needed to make toys - it’s called sinika.
Toy crafting has always been considered an exclusively female craft, because the more difficult work, namely the production of pots and other utensils, was done by men in Filimonovo. Ceramic dishes performed a variety of functions - wash basins, tubs for storing milk, bowls for cooking, pots for storing salt, cereals, bowls, drinking vessels. These were all clay products. This was what men did. And the women were busy with the toy. Residents of the surrounding villages nicknamed them “whistle makers” because the toys were made with whistles.

Appendix No. 2 Toy manufacturing technology

The appearance of the toy was reflected in the natural properties of local clay - “blue”. When drying, plastic, excessively oily clay quickly deforms and becomes covered with small cracks, which have to be smoothed out with a damp hand. Thanks to this, the figure becomes thinner and elongated, acquiring a disproportionate, but surprisingly graceful shape. After firing, products made from such clay acquire an even white color that does not require subsequent priming.

In the spring, before the start of field work, as soon as clear and dry weather set in, all finished products were fired in special furnaces. On the slope of the large ravine that separates the two villages, brick ovens were built, into which dishes were placed in dense rows, and the voids between the pots were filled with whistles. They covered everything on top with tiles, lined it with birch firewood and set it on fire. According to eyewitnesses, the burning was an unusually colorful spectacle. These mighty fires burned until late at night, illuminating white-hot pots and toys.

For all the residents of the village, this day was a solemn event - the result of all winter work. Smartly dressed men, women, and children gathered around the stoves. Everyone expected a miracle - the appearance of clay products transformed by fire. And this miracle appeared before their admiring eyes in the form of toy horses, bears, riders, which during firing changed their natural gray-blue color to soft white with a pink or yellowish tint. The toys were opened in all their pristine beauty: magnificent long neck with a small head smoothly transitions into the elastic, strong body of the beast with high legs and an upturned enlarged rear part with a short whistle tail.

But why do Filimonov animals have such a long neck? The point is the special properties of local clay, which was nicknamed “bluebird” for its color. This clay is surprisingly plastic and pliable. With quick movements, the toy player crushes, stretches, and smoothes the shape of the future whistle. That's from a short thick piece right on thumb forms a bell skirt for the lady, and then deftly sculpts her entire figure from the material remaining on top. Then he bends the tourniquet in such a way that it turns out to be the body of an animal, from which grow four legs and a long neck with a small flattened head at the end, and in the hollow thickening of the rear with a sharp “birdie” stick he pierces two holes for the whistle. Then, during the initial drying, the craftswoman continually corrects and lengthens the sagging and dried material. This makes the figures even more elegant and light in appearance.

But beauty and originality lie not only in the special qualities of local clay, the plasticity of which craftswomen make excellent use of. Folk artists do not just see a specific animal or bird in a toy, but try to express a special attitude towards everything in the world through their creations. And this is the deep tradition of peasant art. With their fantastic appearance, the whistles of the village of Filimonovo give people the opportunity to see daily life in another - festive and fabulous form.

Appendix No. 3 Painting of the Filimonov toy and symbols.

Painting of the Filimonov whistle began only in the middle of the last century, when aniline paints appeared. To this day, toy makers use chicken and duck feathers for painting, “after all, a feather holds paint better and is more durable,” the women say. At first, the paint was diluted “at full egg”, and the painting was in rich natural tones. Unfortunately, it quickly faded and withered. Then the craftswomen began to use acetone - the paints became more durable, but also bright, even somewhat piercingly poisonous.

The main thing that strikes you when looking at the Filimonov toy is its bold painting.
Whistles are painted directly on white baked clay with fancy stripes - yellow, purple, green, and less often blue and purple. In addition, craftswomen vary the color. A blue smear placed on a yellow smear produces green, a red smear on yellow produces orange. The painting is built according to the traditional scheme:
first impose yellow stripes and spots;
then they are circled in red;
then green, blue, sometimes purple.
Limonka, raspberry, zelenka – this is how the craftswomen affectionately call their paints. The range of colors remains almost unchanged. Animals and birds are always painted according to a certain pattern: alternating stripes of different colors run across the body and neck, and only the head is painted in one color, usually green or red. In the coloring of human figures - ladies or thick-legged gentlemen - the least attention is paid to the faces: green, black or blue strokes and dots depicting eyebrows and eyes. Raspberry strokes - mouth. The main thing is the outfit: a bright crimson jacket, a long hat, two or three colored borders on the crown of the hat and the collar of the dress, and a colorful skirt, all covered with carelessly, dashingly written patterns - it dazzles in the eyes like the sun. Strokes, twigs, stars, rosettes, oval leaves, spots, sometimes separated by stripes, sometimes scattered in cheerful disorder across the background.

Craftswomen always begin to paint from the center, and from there the painting develops further, obeying instinct and imagination. All these patterns are reminiscent of the connections between man and nature. The Christmas trees, circles, and suns that the masters use are very ancient ritual signs. However, according to ancient belief, the symbols in the patterns carried spiritual power, capable of conjuring any evil and injustice of the elemental forces of nature. These symbolic signs, which came to us from ancient ritual holidays, have magical symbolism.
In the Filimonov toy we see symbols of the sun, earth, water, and fertility. The signs of the sun are very diverse and are depicted as circles with rays, there is even an image of the night sun. The sign of water is stripes in the form of triangles. Rain is indicated by broken lines.
In Filimonov painting, masters in their own way show their closeness to nature. They passed all the images and symbols through their perception of the world and showed their perception of the world in the painting

Appendix No. 4 Poems about the Filimonov toy.

Filimonovskaya toy

You were born a long time ago
no one knows for sure
but you're still the road
and the memory holds firmly.

Perhaps old Philemon,
walking through the wide forest,
decided to build myself a house,
where there was a deep ravine.

Villages were built then
in inconvenient places
and where they sometimes hid
from internecine wars.

And so he built his house,
I decided to fold the stove too.
He went into the ravine where he saw
stream running into a river.

Found it on the bank of a stream
he is what was needed.
He found clay and went
a piece of me is like soap.

And suddenly from this piece,
what he kneaded clumsily,
suddenly a head appeared
then the arm and body.

And his grandson ran next to him,
and he asked his grandfather:
"Grandfather, I broke my pipe,
can you do something?"

And the grandfather didn’t say a word,
made a hole in the clay,
then another, slobbering,
looking at that craft.

And then the grandson runs and whistles,
what grandfather made from clay,
almost like a little cricket
that he was running around the house at night.

And he succeeded
funniest thing:
“Even though it’s not a pipe, it still whistles,”
He made his grandson happy.

And that blue "pipe"
what did grandfather do by accident?
took his grandson to bed with him,
to the stove that my grandfather attached.

And in the morning my grandmother took
grandson's toy
and put it in the oven hot,
to make it stronger.

They made pots back then
and burned in the oven,
so that they are strong,
cook fish soup from the river.

When the grandson was looking for the pipe,
waking up only at lunchtime,
got a hot toy
and gave it to his grandfather.

The toy was white
and her blue disappeared,
and she became strong,
whistled loudly.

That's how the toy went
throughout Great Rus',
and she is Filimonovskaya
appeared many-sided.

But they scared evil with a whistle,
that lived in the world for a century,
Isn't that why it's dark now?
in my soul from this anger?!

Let's whistle together
in spite of all the dark forces,
and there will be sun in Rus',
and the person is happy!!!

Appendix No. 5 Connection of times

Production picked up noticeably in the 1950s. Public attention and interest in folk art led to the revival of toy craft in Filimonov. The craftswomen quickly remembered their craft.
In the 1960-70s, village craftswomen became members of the Union of Artists, and then Honored Artists; a workshop for the production of ceramic toys was opened in Filimonov, which later became a branch of the Tula Creative and Production Plant. Unfortunately, this did not save the folk Filimonov toy from oblivion, when the wave of the first great interest began to gradually fade. And the craftswomen grew older, illness set in, village life became more and more difficult, villages simply died, and peasant folk art went with them.
In 1984, a gradual revival of Filimonov toys began by graduates of the Abramtsevo Art and Industrial School and descendants of Filimonov craftswomen: Elena Bashkirova and Konstantin Kekhaidi, Alexandra Stukova and Irina Levitina, Alla Goncharova, Vladimir Pershin and Elena Orlova under the guidance of artist and art critic N.V. Denisov, but not in the village, but 14 km from it, in neighboring Odoevo - an urban-type village, or rather, a small but ancient town.
The toy survived and has survived to this day, and now very few people are making it in Odoev. “But this business is not so dirty as it is good, bright and pure,” says Elena Kekhaidi. - After all, we must remember, and tell others, how our ancestors lived, what they did, hobbies, that is, what they had. It's interesting. Yes, and instructive. The soul becomes purer from this work, because the toy emanates goodness, it warms the human soul.”

The modern molded whistle has become even brighter, more elegant, larger (up to 20 cm in height), turned into a sculpture of small forms and changed its appearance.
Since 1998, near Filimonov, the Polyana folk art festival, which has since become traditional, has been held, bringing together pupils, students, artists and folk craftsmen from different parts of the country. The Polyana festival plays an important role in preserving our cultural traditions, preserving the knowledge of folk crafts that have existed since time immemorial on the territory of our multinational state.
The Filimonovskaya Toy Museum is the only specialized museum dedicated to the toy of the same name.
The basis of the exhibition is the work of the famous old craftswomen A.G. Zaitseva, A.G. Karpova, A.I. Derbeneva, E.I. Lukyanova and E.K. Evdokimova, as well as modern masters - V.N. Maslennikova, E.A. Orlova, V.B. Pershin, R.V. Orlov, K.N. and E.I. Kekhaidi and their son Platon, M.N. Marchenkova, A.I. Goncharova and her daughter Anna, G.V. Mishina, I.D. Bezhina, E.M. Palevskaya.
The museum presents rare unique photographs and archival materials about the life and work of former and current masters. And of course, in the museum you can see the process of creating a toy, and if you wish, you can try your hand at it yourself. Take a lump of soft blue clay in your hands and you will feel its energy. Listen to her inner voice and breathe life into her by creating a horse, duck or rooster.
Having gone through a long and difficult path from a myth-fairy tale to children's fun, the toy has now turned into an independent work of sculpture. At fairs and arts and crafts festivals, clay curiosities are now a traditional and welcome guest. According to the People's Master of Russia Elena Orlova: “This craft is unique in that it has never been interrupted. It is passed down from generation to generation.”

Hello, dear friends.

I don’t know about you, but I love folk crafts. It doesn’t matter what it is: sewing rag dolls, carving or painting on wood, weaving from birch bark, and so on. There is something so soulful, warm, dear about them, if you like.

In general, I thought and thought and decided to brighten up today with something positive - a Filimonov toy. And what? The craft is ancient, interesting, bright and loud. In addition, I haven’t written anything about the Tula region for a long time except announcements. So in this article we will look into the past, remember where these funny figures came to us from, and talk about their, let’s say, canonicity and symbolism. What I mean is that in the Filimonovskaya toy everything has its own meaning, both colors and every line with its own meaning.

Filimonovskaya toy: history

This ancient applied artistic craft is approximately 700 years old according to some sources, and approximately 1000 years old according to others. Whatever one may say, this way and that – a lot. It originated in the Odoevsky district (formerly Belevsky district of the Tula province), in the village of Filimonovo (hence the name, in general).

By the way, about the name - there is a legend that says that the village was named in honor of a certain grandfather Philemon. He was a convict (runaway), as well as a toy maker and potter. So, for many years in this village they made pottery and other kitchen utensils, toys, stove pipes and so on.

Experts believe that the art of sculpting and painting Filimonov toys began to emerge during the Upper Paleolithic. There is archaeological evidence of this: during excavations in the Zhemchuzhnikovsky and Snedkovsky mounds and settlements near Odoev, clay shards were discovered. According to archaeologists, these finds date back to the 9th – 11th centuries. So, the signs and symbols that we see today on the Filimonov toy were already applied to them.

Making such whistles is not a difficult task, so previously it was done mainly by women. Girls began to be taught this art at the age of seven, and they were called “whistles.”

In the twentieth century, we almost lost this ancient craft forever. In the 20s, he began to die, and all because the trade in Filimonov toys was banned, and without trade, you yourself understand what kind of trade there is - the craftsmen also need to live on something. There are very few craftswomen left who did not give up their craft at that time.

The rise in production began only in the 1950s, thanks to public attention to folk art. But the real revival of ancient Russian traditions occurred in the mid-80s of the twentieth century.

Now among the craftsmen who create these nursery rhymes there are many men, and the craft itself is widely known outside the Tula region. And all thanks to the efforts of caring people.

Manufacturing technique

Why is this toy so unique of its kind? This is partly due to its shape, which directly depends on the clay: a special clay, sinika, was used to make Filimonov whistles.

Sinica is very plastic (it looks like dough) and a little greasy, so products made from it have to be smoothed to avoid small cracks (this smoothing is what makes them so disproportionate, smooth and expressive);

After firing, the clay acquires a white color, without any additional effort on the part of the master.

Blueberry harvesting technology

1. But in order to sculpt a toy, clay of the required quality still needs to be prepared: previously this was done in the cold. For this reason, round wells up to two meters deep were dug and from there, in fact, this clay was taken out. I emphasize, only in the cold, he did not allow the walls of the well to collapse.
2. After the clay was removed, it was hidden in a cool and damp place for several days. Then a small batch of blueberries was placed in a trough and filled with water for a couple of days. Periodically turned over and patted with a shovel.
3. Later they took it out, put it either on a wooden floor or a place paved with bricks, in a stack, and began to trample. They say that this was accompanied by songs and dances. The man played, and the women danced barefoot on this clay.
4. They trampled until the clay turned into a pancake. Then they sprinkled it with ash through a sieve, rolled it up and hid it in a stack. After some time, they trampled it again, and again sprinkled it with ash, and so on several times.
5. Before sculpting, such a pancake was cut into plates that were already used to make toys. It is very important that the blueberry does not dry out during storage, so the clay plates were covered with a wet rag.

But such technology was in the past; nowadays everything is, of course, different.

At first, the Filimonov whistle was not painted. This began to be done only in the 19th century, thanks to the advent of aniline dyes. At first they were bred “in full eggs” and such painting, of course, was bright, but faded very quickly. Therefore, later the masters adopted acetone. This helped - the colors became even richer, one might even say more poisonous, but the most valuable thing is that the paint lasted longer.

The Filimonov toy is painted in three stages. The number of colors is limited - traditionally there are three.

First, the toy is “yellowed.” That is, after firing, yellow is applied to its real white color. They make the basis for further painting.

At the next stage, shades of red (raspberry) are taken; masters call this “raspberry”.

The last stage is “green stuff”. The color is green or turquoise, and the painting is done between the red lines.

To paint the toy, use a thin brush.

The plots of the toys are very different: in total, there are more than five dozen of them (traditionally, these whistles depict animals and people: ladies, their gentlemen, bears, rams, roosters). But, developed by many generations of folk craftsmen, the features remain unchanged.

This is reflected in the sculpting and proportions of the figures: animals with long necks, equally plastic people. There is little detail, for example, only a skirt and a headdress distinguishes a lady from a gentleman. Animals can also be distinguished only by their heads. So, a ram has curled horns, a bear has ears, and the like.

The painting requires a geometric pattern of three colors. The stripes alternate with more complex patterns, the faces of the figures are always white, and the eyes, mouth and nose are marked with small dots.

The most remarkable thing about the Filimonov toy is, one might say, its strength - pagan antiquity. Over all the centuries, it has not lost any of its elements that characterize the life of the ancient Slavs.

Each drawing on this nursery rhyme is a symbol reflecting peasant beliefs and the deep connection between man and nature. The elements of painting almost always contain two main motifs: the symbol of the sun and the so-called “tree of life” - a pattern reminiscent of fir branches. The ring lines that decorate the entire toy contain goodness and light.

Not only the painting, but the figures themselves also have meaning:

Lady- this is a bereginya. A symbol of home, warmth and love. The personification of Mother Nature. This is a symbol of procreation and all living things.

Bear- one of the most revered symbols in the Slavs is the image of a totemic ancestor, master, power, goodness, the personification of awakening nature. Mother bear with cub- protector of the family, analogous to the beregin. There is a belief that it was the bear who gave birth to the first woman, hence the veneration of bears as the patrons of not only women giving birth, but women in general.

Deer– warmth and fertility, protection. Branched deer antlers symbolized the World Tree.

Horse- a symbol of the sun, water, fertility, light, time and heroic strength.

Rider on a horse- on the one hand, he is a warrior, a protector. On the other hand, it is an image of the sun and light.

Cow- well-being and salvation. Animals with horns, in general, were revered in ancient times: it was believed that they carried the solar disk on their horns.

Wolf- oddly enough, love and kindness.

Rooster- This the strongest amulet, light and sun, dream of happiness. The personification of the coming day. The Slavs believed that the rooster is a prophetic bird, that it drives away with its cry evil forces, breaks the spell. But roosters sitting opposite each other signified fertility.

Duck- a female symbol associated with the cult of the Great Goddess. This is the patron of all women's crafts, the protector of the family.

Dog – true friend and assistant.

Bird- this is light and happiness, a mediator between worlds.

All Filimonov toys can be divided into four groups:

animals;

• compositions of several figures;

But don’t think that this is a “canned” craft. Over time, Filimonov’s stories began to be replenished with modern motifs and individual compositions. But all this was done harmoniously, without violating centuries-old traditions. This applies to everything: the method of sculpting, firing, and, of course, painting.

The only thing is that the modern Filimonov toy has become brighter, more elegant and larger (up to 20 cm in height). It turned from a small whistle into a small sculpture.

Almost all Filimonov toys are essentially whistles (roosters and turkeys do not whistle). And this is also symbolic! With the help of such a whistle, our ancestors scared away evil spirits, whistled at funerals, and even placed it in a coffin along with the deceased.

You can listen to how the Filimonov whistle “sings” in skillful hands.

Photos - pictures

For your inspiration, I have selected several photographs of toys. There you can see the drawing, the specifics, and simply - it’s interesting.

Publications in the Traditions section

History of the Filimonovskaya toy

Pottery has been engaged in pottery in the village of Filimonovo, Tula region, since the 16th century. The land in these places was poor, the harvests were meager, so the sale clay pots and bowls became the only source of income for the villagers. In order not to throw away the pieces of clay left after work, small whistles were made from them. This is how the Filimonov toy appeared.

Oleg Lang. Potters from the village of Filimonovo (fragment). 1883. Private collection

Evgeny Zhurov. Filimonov craftswomen (fragment). 1996. Private collection

Sergei Olennikov. Samovar and Filimonovskaya toy (fragment). 2012. Private collection

According to legend, the village of Filimonovo was named after the potter Filimon: he was the first to discover deposits of soft clay in these places, from which various utensils could be sculpted. Pottery flourished in the village for several centuries: men created pottery, bricks, and stove pipes.

Whistles were made from leftover material that was not suitable for large products. At first, all the figures were given to children, then they began to sell them at fairs. Traditionally only women made toys. Girls began to be taught the craft at the age of seven: grandmothers passed on the secrets of firing and painting to their granddaughters. All the money raised from the sale of whistles was put aside as a dowry for the young craftswoman.

By the middle of the 19th century, Filimonov toys became popular not only in the Tula province, but also in other regions. However, after the revolution, the trade began to fade away: there were only a few women left in the village who continued to engage in it. In the 1960s, these craftswomen taught their craft to several art historians and collectors. Then young artists were taught folk techniques, and by the 1980s the art of Filimonov toys was finally revived.

Bear with a stupa. Museum of Filimonov Toys, Odoev, Tula Region. Photo: filimonovo-museum.ru

Meeting. Museum of Filimonov Toys, Odoev, Tula Region. Photo: filimonovo-museum.ru

Potter Filimon. Museum of Filimonov Toys, Odoev, Tula Region. Photo: filimonovo-museum.ru

All Filimonov toys were whistles. Most often, the masters depicted people and animals, sometimes they sculpted compositions from several figures - for example, the “Lyubota” figurine in the form of a couple in love.

The shape for the toys was chosen to be simple, without small parts. The female figures were called ladies, the male figures were called gentlemen or soldiers, depending on the details of the costume. Both had a narrow and short body with thin waist, which turned into voluminous pants or a fluffy bell skirt.

The cone-shaped head was almost the same width as the neck and was crowned with a headdress - a scarf or hat for female characters, a cap or top hat for male characters. In the hands of the lady they held a baby or a bird-whistle, the gentlemen held a rooster or a goose.

Of the animals, Filimonov artists most often depicted bears, horses, cows, and deer. They were different characteristic shape horns or ears, the remaining proportions were almost the same: a thin elongated body with smooth curves, slender legs, a long neck and a small head.

Techniques of Filimonov masters

Whistles were made from soft, non-greasy clay - sinika, which was so called because dark blue. It was stored in winter. The extracted material was kept for several days in a damp, cool place, then the women kneaded it with their bare feet on wooden floor. The finished clay was cut into plates and stored covered with a damp cloth.

The toy was sculpted from a single piece of material. Small cracks and irregularities were smoothed out with a wet hand, so the shape of the product became elongated and smooth. The finished figurines were fired in a special oven - a forge. After firing, the clay changed color to pinkish-white.

Until the mid-19th century, Filimonov toys were not painted. Then aniline dyes appeared: they were diluted with egg white or yolk, then painted finished product bright patterns and dried. This paint faded quickly, and by the 1870s, craftsmen replaced the egg with acetone. With it the coating turned out to be more durable.

To paint Filimonov toys, only three colors were used - yellow, red-crimson and green. In the old days, they were given symbolic meaning: it was believed that yellow symbolizes air and sun, red - warmth and beauty, green - spring and life. The paint was applied with a chicken feather in strict order. First, the workpiece was “yellowed” - a background of wide stripes and circles was created. The part of the whistle that was touched by the lips was not painted. Yellow paint was applied to the skirts and aprons of ladies, the trousers of gentlemen, the neck and sides of animals, and the wings of birds.

The next stage of painting was called “raspberry”. Using red or crimson paint, starting from the center, thin stripes, circles, dots, “herringbones” and other simple ornaments were painted on a yellow background. The characters' shirts were painted the same color. When the drawing dried, green strokes were applied between the red patterns: the final stage of painting was called “green paint”. The faces of the toys were not worked out in detail: they only outlined the mouth in red and the dotted eyes in green.

Filimonov Toy Museum and Pottery Festival

Whistles in the village of Filimonovo are still made by hand. True, they are fired not in forges, as in the old days, but in electric muffle furnaces: the temperature in them reaches 950 degrees. Aniline dyes and acetone have been replaced by bright, durable and harmless acrylic. It is applied with brushes of different thicknesses made of natural fur, although some craftsmen use a chicken feather for painting in the old fashioned way.

In 2009, not far from the village of Filimonovo, in the city of Odoev, the only museum of Filimonovo toys in Russia was opened. Its exhibition presents not only local products, but also other folk crafts - Romanov, Sudzhan, Voronezh, Kozhlyan toys, as well as copies of Greek clay figurines from 1400–1100 BC. e. The museum hosts lectures on the history of fishing, master classes on sculpting and painting whistles.

Since 2013, the festival of pottery art and clay toys “Tales of Grandfather Philemon” has been held in Odoev. Craftsmen from different parts of the country bring traditional toys from their regions and designer ceramics. In addition to clay products at exhibitions and fairs, festival guests can see and buy lace, national costumes, and sweets according to ancient recipes.

The village of Filimonovo is located in the Odoevsky district of the Tula region, on the banks of the Una River. It is here that, since time immemorial (the first discovered products date back to the 9th – 11th centuries), craftsmen have painted clay animals in a special way, turning them into tiny works of art. The Filimonovskaya toy is a striking example of folk art, which has again begun to gain popularity in our time. Filimonov painting is a very beautiful art, so let's make a craft using this painting!

We learn to create original crafts using the Filimonov painting technique

For crafts, special clay is used, which is mined there; it has been used since ancient times for the production of pottery. According to legend, the name of the village "Filimonovo" comes from the name of the potter Filimon, who was the first to discover the magnificent qualities of this material.

Raw clay has a bluish color, which is why it is called “sinica”. It is very greasy and flexible, but while drying the product you need to constantly smooth it with your hands, because. cracks may appear on them. But the finished crafts acquire a beautiful white color, so you can apply patterns without prior priming.

Most often, masters depicted human figures (young ladies in fluffy dresses, gentlemen, dancing couples, equestrians) or animals (horses, rams, bears, poultry).

The figures are made without any template from a single piece of clay with no small parts. Female characters usually hold a swaddled baby or bird in their hands. The male figures are distinguished by thick legs, shod in heavy, clumsy boots. Of great interest is the image of paired figures, they are called “Lyubota”.

It is important to note that most animals have similar elements: an elongated body, smoothly turning into a neck and a small head. Only by the shape of the head or the presence of horns can one distinguish, for example, a horse from a lamb. A very interesting image is the image of a sitting bear with widely spaced paws, holding an object in the oval forelimbs - a mirror.

The traditional colors for Filimonov painting are red, yellow and green colors, and each of them was not chosen randomly:

• red is a symbol of earth, fortitude, fire and beauty
• yellow – the color of the sun and air
• green – the color of foliage and rebirth

The main element of painting is often stripes (for example, animals often have their entire body striped); they are supplemented with more complex patterns. Usually faces and muzzles are left white, with only a few strokes outlining the eyes and mouth. Typically, painting begins with yellow paint, as the lightest, then crimson patterns are drawn, and green elements are added at the end. Due to the simplicity of execution, these crafts are great for children - even a preschooler can handle them under the guidance of an adult.

A thousand years ago, pottery was mainly practiced by men, and whistles, as an entertainment item, were made by women and children starting from the age of 8-9. These funny toys were actively sold at fairs for the amusement of the public.

However, it is believed that initially whistles were not only an entertainment item. Among our pagan ancestors, they served for rituals and communication with spirits. The Vyatichi greeted the sun god Yarila with a loud whistle from clay pipes. They also believed that such a whistle could drive away bad spirits from the world of the dead and cleanse the room. That is why whistles were often hung around children’s necks: they simultaneously acted as a talisman and a toy. However, over time, magical symbolism began to play less importance and whistles with Filimonov painting began to be used simply for fun. To make them, they used clay left over from making pots. Even when firing in the kiln, pots were placed first, and the space between them was filled with small toys.

Let's look at the main images in the Filimonov toy and their meaning

1) The female figure is the personification of fertility and all living things, the mother-nurse, procreation. Usually dressed in a red blouse and a patterned skirt.

2) The bear is one of the key characters in Slavic fairy tales, symbolizing the awakening force.

3) Deer is the personification of a strong and friendly marriage and fertility.

4) Horse - since ancient times, pictures of horses and their images have been associated with the sun. It was believed that it was he who drove Yaril’s chariot across the sky and brought his grace to people on earth.

5) Birds are symbols of the earth goddess, often depicted together with female figures. They mean the awakening of nature after hibernation, resurrection, fertility and harvest.

6) The cow is the most important animal among the peasants. Symbolizes fertility, energy and inexhaustible strength.

Video on the topic of the article