Some of the most ornate and refined pieces of glassware from St. Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum — home to the former Russian royal residence, the Winter Palace — are currently on display in Tokyo.

Four-candle girandole with "Wedgwood-style" porcelain plinth, Western Europe (around late 18th century) (C) THESTATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM, ST. PETERSBURG, 2011

Royalty have never been noted for their reserved tastes, and the Russians were no exception. Over many generations, the Tsars amassed a collection of more than 2,000 works of elaborate glassware from every period of European history.

This exhibition presents 190 pieces, ranging from 14th-century German Gothic and Renaissance Venetian glassware to 20th-century Russian Art Nouveau and Art Deco works.

Tracing the history of decorative glassware, the show includes many rare works being shown in Japan for the first time; till Sept. 25.

Other arts this week
"Kazunari Hattori: Summer 2011 In Osaka" By TOMOKO HORI	"Nihonga in Kyoto: Past, Present, and Future" By TOMOKO HORI	"Ancient Civilizations of The Americas: Man, Nature and Spirit in Pre-columbian Art" By TOMOKO HORI
Art triennale to explore quake, life's mysteries By EDAN CORKILL	"Kukai's World: The Arts Of Esoteric Buddhism" By MIKE HAMILTON	"Nobuyoshi Araki: Higan" By MIKE HAMILTON