Russian crystals on display

By Elita Karim
4 June 2004, 18:00 PM
Visitors at the crystal fair
The Russian Cultural Centre is currently holding a 10-day long Russian Crystal Fair, which will continue till June 10. The inauguration ceremony of this fair marked the National Day of the Russian Federation on June 1. The State Minister for Agriculture Mirza Faqrul Islam Alamgir was present as the chief guest, while the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bangladesh, Oleg S Malginov, was the guest of honour. M Touhidul Islam, the Assistant Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, was also present at the ceremony as special guest.

The exhibition hall at the Centre is filled with pieces of crystal designs ranging from a tiny crystal paperweight to a gigantic flower vase in a mixture of colours. Some of the pieces, which will catch the visitors' eyes, are the small crystal boats lined up alongside the colourful drawingroom pieces in the shapes of little animals like turtles, swans, ducks, dogs, cows, horses etc.

Fascinating crystal pieces in the shapes of ancient drinking bottles, trumpets and pipes are arranged in colours of red, brown and yellow. A black crystal candle-stand stands out amidst the white and blue ones. Tea sets and liquor assortments from the ancient times have been depicted in blue along with red fruit trays.

Crystal chess sets in colours of green and yellow have been displayed at the fair as well.