The Mertsalov's Palm

The Mertsalov's Palm, symbol of Donetsk Basin region (Donbas) and the masterpiece of blacksmith handicraft, the unique creation of Alexey Mertsalov, the blacksmith of the New-Russia Society of coal, ferreos and rail production". He forged it from one piece of rail in 1896 specially for All-Russian exhibition in Nizhniy Novgorod. As to heraldry, the Mertsalov's Palm expresses special sense, representing the unity of coal, metal, creative idea, labour and success. At present the Palm is kept in Saint-Petersbourg College of Mines. In 1998 the hammersmith Sergey Kaspruk (Donetsk) forged an exact copy of The Mertsalov's Palm on the Fund Gold Scythian order. The executive director of the charitable fund Gold Scythian Konstantin Vorobyov said on the press-conference in UNIAN on Friday, May 18 2001, that soon Donetsk and Kiev will do an uncommon exchange. The Kiev Symbol - Archangel Michael will be installed in Donetsk, and a Donbas Symbol - The Mertsalov's Palm - in Kiev. Mr. Vorobyev related also about the fund program of the Donbas popularization, about the actions, which will be within the frameworks of 3rd International festival "Gold Scythian". Among them - the Mertsalov's Palm installation in Kiev, the presentation of Moscow gift to Donbas - the exact Tsar-Cannon copy, which will be installed in Donetsk downtown. Ihor Likhuta, the producer of singer Taisia Povaliy (she is the member of jury of the International contest for young performers "Scythian") related about the contest of the future show-stars. Producer of the First national TV-channel Vladimir Orlov answered the questions on television coverage of this action. Photo by Fund "Gold Scythian"/ UNIAN