Russian Nesting Doll

[hewand-0]

Hi. Can anyone tell me anything about this? Or where I can find info on this? I've done an "image search" and it comes back "artifact." 

I've tried some nesting doll web sites but cannot find one like it. I'd like to know age and purpose. 

Thank you. 

[maxine*j]

Well, the top word is "Russia,"  the middle word is "Casino" (which fits with the cards being held), and the bottom word is "Kadapova" (which sounds like a name, so perhaps the person who did the painting).

The largest figure looks wealthy and is not holding cards, so maybe he is the casino owner, and the next figures look increasingly sad, so perhaps they are the losing players.  Just a thought.

РОССИЯ = Russia

КАЗИНО = Casino

КАДАПОВА = Kadapova

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[maxine*j]

Ah.  Look what I found when In Googled the above info:

https://www.goldencockerel.com/en-us/special-order/gift-for-him/casino-man-doll-5pc-6-inches.html

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[candd205]

And the smallest one lost everything (including his clothes) at the casino.

[maxine*j]

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@candd205 wrote:

And the smallest one lost everything (including his clothes) at the casino.

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Oh, my gosh!  You're right!   😄

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[candd205]

Oh, I just noticed he lost his jacket between the 2nd and 3rd doll. Then he lost his bowtie between the 3rd and 4th doll.

[maxine*j]

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@candd205 wrote:

Oh, I just noticed he lost his jacket between the 2nd and 3rd doll. Then he lost his bowtie between the 3rd and 4th doll.

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I didn't see that, but I'm sure you're right.  I saw it as a series of unhappy gamblers, but that it's one guy losing it all makes sense and makes for a funnier "story."

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[yankeebob1951]

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@maxine*j wrote:

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@candd205 wrote:

Oh, I just noticed he lost his jacket between the 2nd and 3rd doll. Then he lost his bowtie between the 3rd and 4th doll.

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I didn't see that, but I'm sure you're right.  I saw it as a series of unhappy gamblers, but that it's one guy losing it all makes sense and makes for a funnier "story."

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-Not only is he losing his clothes...check out his progressive hair loss! And the facial expressions.

-Hilarious...and  looks like OP can contact the business @maxine*j  sited to get some further background/provenance on the item if it's theirs.

-The business's  background is interesting too...I love stories of these little unexpected niche markets people find...a Matryoshka Gallery  in Boone,NC...whoda thunk it?

[hewand-0]

That's the closest I've seen. Thanks.

[hewand-0]

Thank you for the translation. I'm going to look into "Kadapova." Maybe the city here the casino is? Maybe the artist? Thanks again. 

[argon38]

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@hewand-0 wrote:

Maybe the city here the casino is?

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"Casino" is the title and theme of the piece. It's the artist's clever social joke, nothing more. It isn't something a real-life casino would sell or promote, since it shows the customer starting out wealthy and ending up broke.

[lacemaker3]

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@hewand-0 wrote:

Thank you for the translation. I'm going to look into "Kadapova." Maybe the city here the casino is? Maybe the artist? Thanks again. 

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КАДАПОВА is a female surname, and there are lots of hits on google search for this word as a surname. I didn't see any hits as the name of a city, although there might be some.