Museum of New Year’s Tree Decorations opens at National History Museum of Belarus, with over 500 exhibits
Around 500 exhibits on show at Museum of New Year’s Tree Decorations
The exhibition is based on the principle of a magic labyrinth, reflecting the history of the manufacture of glass New Year’s tree decorations: from the mid-19th century until the present day. National History Museum of Belarus Director Oleg Ryzhkov tells us, “You can not only see New Year’s tree decorations but learn about their history, and techniques of manufacture. You can even send a postcard of congratulations and wishes to friends or family, or buy a souvenir, or take part in a master class to paint New Year’s tree decorations.” Similar projects have been attracting private collectors, so the museum can buy new exhibits.
The exhibition lasts until February 15th, 2015, and will demonstrate New Year’s tree decorations from private collections and National History Museum archives. Some are from the Soviet period, including rare finds made in Russia, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. Austro-Hungarian glass decorations from the late-19th century include a Viennese Christmas bauble with a diameter of more than 40cm, and an exact copy of a bauble presented by glass blowers to Pope John Paul II. Some decorations are even painted with copies of works by artistic masters: Marc Chagall, Ivan Shishkin, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Victor Vasnetsov, Ivan Aivazovsky and Leonardo da Vinci.
