Word: tolstikov
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
That's not surprising, in view of the predictable embarrassment the news has caused. "Why the exhibit was not put on earlier is one of those questions to which there is no answer," says Vladimir Tolstikov, chief curator of the Pushkin's classics department, who has known about the treasure for two decades. Under the Soviets, he says, "we were always told, 'Your job is to take care of these objects and not to get mixed up in things that are none of your business...
Once they got approval to mount an exhibition, though, Tolstikov's staff wasted no time. A hall had to be emptied, restored and equipped with state-of-the-art cases, security alarms, lighting and air conditioners. In October 1994 a German commission pronounced the collection in "ideal" condition. Researchers from England, Greece, Turkey, Germany and the U.S. helped the Russians identify and catalog the artifacts...