Matryoshkas are often thought-through to follow a particular theme, for instance peasant girls in traditional dress, but the theme can be anything, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders.
In 1900, M.A. Mamontova, the wife of Nesting Dolls Savva Mamontov, presented the dolls at the World Exhibition in Paris and the toy earned a bronze medal. Soon, manifold other places in Russia started making matryoshki of various styles.