DIPLOMATIC GIFT IN THE CONTEXT OF MUSEUM. BY THE EXAMPLE OF GIFTS FROM RULERS OF EASTERN COUNTRIES TO NICHOLAS II

In spite of many studies on the topic of gift phenomena in the fields of history, sociology and ethnography, diplomatic gift as a museum object hasn't been properly investigated yet. Collection of precious objects that were presented by rulers of Eastern countries to emperor Nicholas II is taken as an example to explore the meaning of diplomatic gift within the emperor's private collection and later, in the context of museum. During his Eastern journey (1890-1891) Nicholas Alexandrovich, who was then a crown prince, compiled a collection of various objects that included diplomatic gifts from leaders of Siam, Qing Empire, Japan and other countries. They were shown at the exhibition in the Winter Palace and Imperial Hermitage in 1893-1894. Its main idea was to form an image of the future emperor through indicating a new course in Russian foreign policy. Collection of eastern gifts was enlarged during the coronation ceremony in 1896 and later, during the years of Nicholas' reign (1896-1917). Each country had its own tradition of gift making, and gifts were always connected with current political issues between countries and reflected their relationships. It is noteworthy that diplomatic gifts from Asia usually didn't serve their functional purpose neither they were stored in repositories and therefore neglected. On the contrary, they used to decorate interiors of imperial palaces. These exotic objects were regarded as something rare and beautiful at the same time, according to the fin-de-siecle fashion. Their representative function was also important because this objects could serve as a reminder to the emperor about his diplomatic success. Making and receiving gifts was not always well supported with documents, and many gifts from the emperor's collection were lost during the years of revolution of 1917 while others were spread among different museums. That is why contemporary museum representation of diplomatic gifts in the context of building international relationships is limited. Nevertheless there is a number of such exhibitions that took place in Moscow Kremlin Museums (1996, 2003, 2005), Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (1997-2000), Tsaritsyno Museum (2010-2011), State Hermitage museum (2014-2016). Diplomatic gifts from rulers of Eastern countries to emperor Nicholas II are shown on the permanent display "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" in the General Staff building of the State Hermitage. It is located in the rooms where Minister of foreign affairs used to work, which helps to give back this objects their previous meaning. Museum representation of diplomatic gifts can be developed with the help of further studies in history, culturology and museology in order to show them in wider context of making dialogues between cultures.