Развитие традиций народной глиняной игрушки в творчестве современных самарских мастеров

The article surveys the main tendencies and prospects of the development of Samara contemporary designer’s clay toy. The creative work of Samara toy-makers is analyzed in connection with traditional folk crafts. Samara clay toy is studied in terms of folk culture as the keeper of art traditions. The research also reveals the originality as well as the complicated artistic character of this phenomenon combining sculpturesque, pictorial and ornamental-decorative bases.