A temporary display celebrating Ukrainian culture through the ages has been opened by The British Museum.

The free display features objects curated from the museum’s collection, and it is hoped the display will provide a talking point for visitors concerned with Russia’s invasion of the country.

Objects on display include a 5,500 year old kiln-fired, painted storage jar from Western Ukraine, a hand-coloured lithograph of a Woman in Ukrainian dress by Gabriel Charton III.

Also on display is a Ukrainian Easter egg featuring a dove of peace design, dated between 1970–1980. Known in Ukraine as pysanky (written) the designs are drawn in wax, the egg dyed, and the wax then melted off. Here, the dove holds an olive branch, a symbol of peace.

Hartwig Fischer, Director of the British Museum, said of the display: “Culture is precious yet fragile: whether tangible or intangible, it fosters understanding and belonging.

“The scale of human displacement and destruction in Ukraine is deeply distressing, as are the threats to its rich culture. We extend our deepest sympathy to the people of Ukraine and stand ready to provide support to our colleagues in museums and at historic sites across Ukraine”.

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