Published: 6 May, 2009, 01:05
Edited: 6 May, 2009, 01:05
A new exhibition in the heart of Washington marks the 1st time rare Russian treasures, including armor, gold equestrian trappings and other dazzling objects from the Kremlin make their appearance in the U.S. capital.
 Plaque-pendant, Istanbul, the XVIIth century. |
The precious artifacts from the Kremlin have been transferred to the Smithsonian Institute to be displayed
as “The Tsars and the East: Gifts from Turkey and Iran in the Moscow Kremlin.”
The ancient gifts represent exchanges between Russian Tsars and their counterparts in Istanbul and Iran and help to describe the cultural, diplomatic, and commercial contacts between Russia and its Eastern neighbors.
Ottoman sultans and the shahs of Iran presented some of these gifts to the Russian tsars and patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. Also, neighboring powers hoped to advance their economic and political agendas by offering these gifts.
According to Dr. Julian Raby, Director of the Sackler Art Gallery, gifts of this kind were an issue of honor rather than value.
The gifts are skillfully crafted and meticulously decorated, often covered with gold and bejeweled with diamonds and other precious stones.
Sponsors and supporters of the three-month exhibition hope it will contribute to a better understanding between the people of Russia and the United States, and possibly set a precedent for more cultural exchanges between the two nations.