If I do not know what to give someone as a present, especially someone who seems to have everything, I turn to the nearest Imperial Porcelain shop as there is a chain of them across the city. I’m always amazed that I can find something special there, in every style and direction I can imagine. A coffee twain for the classical ballet-lover, a tea cup for a Malevich painting fan, a cute set with fairy tale motives for the kids – I have a long list of friends and relatives who have enjoyed the stuff I bought there.

The Imperial Porcelain factory was founded in 1744 and is the first one in Russia and the third one in Europe. Its products were adored by tsars and revolutionists, 250 years ago and today. The factory still manages to maintain a huge variety of forms and styles affordable more or less for every wallet.

Shaherizada ballet theme on the photo.