Museum complex

The vase-egg "Four Seasons»

Carver N.S.Vereschagin
Russia
End of XVIII century
Mammoth tusk(?), wood; openwork, relief carving; engraving
31,5 x 13 x 13,8 cm; 31,5 x 13,5 x 13,5 cm
Receipt: from Tretyakov Gallery in 1955 (previously in Hermitage)
Showcase 9

In 1803 a special envoy N.P.Rezanov arrived to Japan. The ship" Neva" delivered a diplomatic mission. The goal was to get permission to trade with Japan. The vase was included in the set of gifts for the Japanese Emperor. However negotiations with the Japanese authorities failed. In 1638 Japan declared: "As long as the Sun shines in this world, no one dares to come ashore in Japan, should he even be an Ambassador." Thus, the gifts were not accepted and returned to Russia.

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