Bahraini artist Esraa Ayoob is drawing attention with her striking figurines that blend the rich tradition of Russian Matryoshka dolls with the vibrant aesthetics of the Arab world, reflecting the enduring cultural ties between the two.
The creative talent has recently released new designs, including Bahraini grandfather-themed pieces, Saudi family-inspired sets and wedding-style collections.
Matryoshkas – also known as stacking dolls or Russian tea dolls – are traditionally crafted as a series of wooden figures of decreasing size placed one inside another.
Ms Ayoob
Ayoob’s creations are fashioned from wood and intricately painted to highlight embroidered Arab textiles, traditional jewellery, the distinctive Khaleeji thobe and ghutrah, among other elements. The figurines are available in a range of sizes.
“The design is a fusion of Russian and Bahraini influences and the colours and decorative elements reflect Bahraini culture, heritage and identity,” said Ms Ayoob, who receives orders from Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
Ms Ayoob’s wedding set
Her handcrafted pieces are also showcased at the gift shops at the Qatar National Museum and most recently at the Bahrain National Museum.
“It was one of the highlights of my artistic journey. Seeing people connect with my work and engage with the ideas and cultural influences behind the designs was truly rewarding,” she said.
The culture enthusiast has been fashioning the figurines for the last five years.
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