History seen through gifts

By By Li Xiang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-17 11:43

　　A porcelain statue of goddesses presented by the Franco Foundation of Spain to former Chinese President Li Xiannian in the 1980s.

These gifts are often crafted by unknown artists and rarely seen in public. Their artistry is often overshadowed by the famous historical figures and the events for which they were given.

Ranging from the opulent gilded eagle from Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz to President Hu Jintao in 2006 to the traditional beer mugs given by a retired German worker to Chairman Mao in 1973, each gift not only resonates with the vibrancy of the culture it represents, it also recalls a moment in history when China established friendly relations with the rest of the world.

The exhibition, organized by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the International Friendship Museum, is by far the largest of its kind. One third of the gifts are being shown to the public for the first time.

The displayed items were carefully selected by a group of art and antiques scholars from more than 20,000 state gifts collected by the International Friendship Museum, according to Deputy Director Xiang Zhaohui of the museum's exhibition department.

"Our experts took into consideration both the artistic value and the historical significance when selecting these precious gifts," Xiang says. "The purpose is to let our audience gain an understanding of China's diplomatic history and an appreciation of the rich and diverse cultures and customs these state gifts represent."

The exhibition opened during the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has attracted more than 10,000 visitors a day. It will run through Sept 26.

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