Kargopol toys (Russian: Каргопольская игрушка) are moulded painted clay figures of people and animals. It is one of the old Russian folk art handicrafts, which is produced in and around the town of Kargopol, Arkhangelsk Oblast, in the north of Russia. It started in 19th century in the areas west of Kargopol. The potters were not professionals, but just peasants who made toys in their spare time. A notable toy-maker in the beginning of 20th century was Ivan Druzhinin (1887-1949). The handicraft almost became extinct in 1930s. In 1950s only one artist, Ulyana Babkina (1889-1977), was making the toys. Eventually, Babkina's toys received all-Russian recognition, were noticed by the Russian Artist Union, and the handicraft was revived.

Currently, bright colors (white, red, yellow, black) are typically used, in contrast to the old masters, who used the colored clay and produced toys in rather reserved colors.

Kargopol toys are typically single characters, and very seldom they represent a group of two or three characters. The front of a toy gets more decoration, and the toys are thus oriented to the front view.

Kargopol (Russian: Каргополь) is a town in and the administrative center of Kargopolsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, situated on both sides of the Onega River, several miles north of Lake Lacha, in the southwestern corner of the oblast.Municipally, it is incorporated as Kargopolskoye Urban Settlement of Kargopolsky Municipal District, the only urban settlement in the district. Population: 10,148 (2010 Census preliminary results); 11,192 (2002 Census); 12,495 (1989 Census).

It is not clear when Kargopol was founded, but, when first chronicled in 1146, it was a trade station of the Republic of Novgorod and one of the most northerly permanent Slavic settlements. Although documentation for its early history is scarce, it is believed that Kargopol was the most significant trade center of Bjarmaland throughout the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1447, it was the place where Dmitry Shemyaka found refuge from Vasily II's ire.

Situated on the ancient route between Moscow and Arkhangelsk (then the only Russian seaport), Kargopol became one of the most prosperous cities of Russia, especially after the Muscovy Company started to operate in the mid-16th century. During the Time of Troubles it withstood a siege by Polish and Lithuanian brigands. The peasant rebel Ivan Bolotnikov was executed in Kargopol in 1608.