Production of famous toys with ingenious painting originated in the village of Polkhovsky Maidan of Voznesensk district.
At the end of the 18th century many peasants adopted the skill of turning craft from the monks of Sarov monastery who produced wooden plates and dishes in the monastery’s turning shops. At the beginning of the 20th century in Polkhovsky Maidan they started to use the technique of “burning out” on the products and the technique of painting of the products.

A legend says that in old times in the troops of rebelling chieftain Stepan Razin there was a female leader Alyona, a former peasant from Arzamas roundabouts. In her detachment there were indocile ancestors of Polkhovsky Maidan handicraftsmen. Near the village of Temnikov in Mordovia Alyona was taken prisoner and burned at the order of Prince Dolgoruky. In the place where the female chieftain was murdered a red rose grew and blossomed out. They say that particular rose was later depicted on the toys by Polkhovsky Maidan painters.