By Vladimir Yakovlev
Several years ago, FC BATE from Belarusian Borisov, situated 60km from Minsk, rushed into the European football elite. It has kept a strong foothold ever since. A leather ball covered in the team’s signatures ever reminds of this, as well as a crystal ball which has been presented to the football club by Borisov residents, in honour of their achievements. The choice is both simple and symbolic, as the crystal ball was manufactured by Borisov’s famous crystal factory.
The enterprise, located in the centre of the city, is a key landmark and a piece of Belarusian history, having been founded 112 years ago by Minsk merchant Berka Kabanov. He was later replaced by Kraevsky, who understood well that crystal and glass can be both functional and beautiful. Since 1904, goods made by Borisov’s crystal factory have sold well in France and in the UK, as well as in Egypt and Afghanistan. At that time, 225 masters worked at the enterprise and, in 1910, it was awarded an honorary medal at an exhibition in Paris. The French capital awarded the factory again 67 years later, bestowing the ‘Golden Eagle’. The factory had survived two wars, facing many challenges and enduring through them all.
Former US President Bill Clinton and the current President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, have both been presented with crystal from the famous enterprise. In fact, crystal shot glasses, wine glasses, goblets, vases, confectionary and salad bowls, ash-trays and various souvenirs are owned by millions around the world. The factory’s green and blue glass appeals to those seeking something unusual, as does its unique ‘drunken’ shot glasses and decanters (made to lean like the Tower of Pisa).
The enterprise’s sorting room offers an embarrassment of riches: glasses for wine, shots, tea and, most recently, cocktails (triangular shaped for martinis). All are created in dozens of variants, boasting up to 20 modifications. The frosted-etched stemmed-ware particularly appeals to me, being elegant and fashionable. A set of 6 or 12 can be coupled with a decanter (with a capacity of 250ml to 2.5 litres) or a 1.5-3 litre jug. There is even a series of crystal cooler buckets for champagne.
The vases are astonishing in their delicacy and size — being up to 1.5m high. You can have any image you like engraved, with the etching lasting a lifetime. Portraits of those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries are popular, as are depictions of animals: elephants, swans or traditional Belarusian aurochs. The factory has even made a mill with rotating blades in crystal! Dishes for fruit and confectionery, alongside jewellery boxes, make wonderful gifts. The factory’s inventory numbers 3,000 models. Last year, the Borisov enterprise was given another honorary award at an international exhibition in Paris; it has now won prizes and diplomas in 30 states.
It’s hard to believe that glass — so full of sun, joy and warmth — is made from sand, plumbum oxide and potash. Of course, only the purest sand is used (without iron impurities). Like the other raw ingredients, it’s imported, as is the natural gas which feeds the furnaces where the liquid glass is melted day and night.
“When the plumbum content reaches 24 percent, glass can be called crystal,” explains Sergey Goncharov, the chief engineer at the enterprise. “It’s more reflective and gives the delicate crystal ring. Meanwhile, true crystal keeps these wonderful properties for centuries, unlike plain glass.”
The mastery and dedication of the glass blowers is just as important at the ingredients. They stand on a platform around the furnace, blowing each piece by hand, individually, from the fiery hot liquid. An impressive 450-500 shot glasses and goblets can be manufactured in a single shift, while several people can work on a single vase during the whole day. The addition of engraving follows, alongside packaging, after which the goods are sent out to shops and are transported abroad… eventually adorning festive tables near and far.
