"Glass Admired By The Russian Tsars"

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.

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.

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum; (03) 3443-0201; 5-21-9 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku; 7-min walk from Meguro Station (JR lines). 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ¥1,000. Closed every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp.