Gemstone paintings, other Russian items on sale
Luci Scott
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 1, 2008 10:21 AM
An unusual import shop selling gemstone paintings and other items from Russia has opened in downtown Chandler.
Russian Oasis, 8 S. San Marcos Place, is owned by Tony Domenico, a mechanical engineer at Orbital Sciences Corp., and his wife, Tanya, a native of Moscow.
The gemstone paintings range in price from $35 to $120.
“They’re made the same way sand pictures are,” Tanya Domenico said. “They crush rubies and emeralds and I think about 30 kinds of gems, and create pictures.”
She also sells jewelry made of silver and Baltic amber.
“Our selection of amber is one of the largest in Arizona,” she said.
The store has two sales: the amber jewelry at 25 percent off and Christmas ornaments discounted by 40 percent.
The shop also features crystals, Russian shawls, glass figurines, porcelain sets and separate items, and handmade jewelry boxes, some painted and others made of inlaid straw.
Tanya, who has an undergraduate degree in linguistics, received a master’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
The couple, who met as students at ASU and who were married in Moscow.
While the store’s address is on San Marcos Place, the entrance is on Commonwealth. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
