Buryat Epic Dolls by Namdakov family

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Khan woman. Buryat Epic Dolls by Namdakov family

Buryat Epic Dolls by Namdakov family
I have already published some articles about the renowned jeweler Dashi Namdakov. No less talented are the other members of his family – his parents, brothers and sisters. All of them are the brightest and original artists. This post is about their unique collection of dolls with the distinctive features of thousand-year-old Buryat heroic epics.
Relatives of Dashi began creating dolls more than 10 years ago, and the first doll appeared in 2005. Total created more than fifty dolls. Sold to private collections, each doll is unique, made by hand, including the patterns on fabrics. The figures are static, but each of them has a certain character and a refined attitude – typical plastic.

Khan woman, detail

Namdakov’s parents have eight children, and all of them live in Ulan-Ude. According to belief, the name belongs to an ancient family of blacksmiths, Darkhan “darhate”, who gave the world gifted jewelers, craftsmen and artists.

Sketch

Buryat Epic Dolls by Namdakov family

The workshop, which is the family home, has a “male shop”, where men work with metal and casting, and “female shop” where the dolls acquire perfect beauty.
On the creation of dolls work the whole family – Dashi draws a sketch, a simple black and white pencil sketch, which he sends from the distant London by e-mail, and the family members bring it to life.
Noteworthy, at least 7 people work on each creation. The elder brother makes frames and bases made of wire, while sisters sew costumes, do makeup and wigs, the father does all the work with leather and wood, and the mother is engaged in weaving and lace embellishments.

Girl on a horse

Girl on a horse detail

Swan Girl

With a thin hook, a yak hair is implanted into a molded plastic head, and then begins creating the beauty of braids decorated with beads and ribbons. Creating doll is a very delicate work, which takes from one to three months.