RUSSIA AND JAPAN: FROM PAST TO FUTURE

Exhibition project
"Treasures of the Romanovs and Russia"

Exhibition "Russia and Japan: from Past to Future" was held in Tokyo Metropolitan Art museum in Japan from the 22nd of April through the 6th of July 2003. ITAR TASS and State Museum and Exhibition Center ROSIZO (the Russian side) and Sankei Simbun and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (the Japanese side) organized the exhibition.

The exhibition was devoted to the trips of the Russian monarchs to Japan. Grand Duke Alexey Alexandrovitch the 4th son of Alexander II visited Japan in 1872. He headed the good will delegation that his father Alexander sent to the US and other countries. The 2nd good will delegation headed by Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovitch (Nikolai II) went to Japan in 1891. The grand dukes visited Japanese towns, met the emperor and his supporters. The grand dukes felt friendly attitude of Japan towards Russia and kept warm memories on their travels. The exhibition presented artifacts left from the visits — letters, telegrams, diaries, drawings and photos.

The exhibition visitors had a unique opportunity to see the Romanoff's crockery, jewelry and other pieces that belonged to the royal family. "Jewelry masterpieces of Russian craftsmen — 19th-20th century"). Russian jewelry and silver smith craftsmanship blossomed in the 17th-19th centuries in Russia — Russian jewelers developed their unique style and became world famous. Russian royal family as the most glamorous in Europe was the main client of the jewelers. Faberge, Sazikov, Khlebnikov, Ovchinnikov and other jewelers produced elegant tasteful pieces that distinguished with high art level and perfection of technical performance.

The exhibition presented interior decorations, weapons, costumes, furniture and other pieces that belonged to the royal family as well as icons and paintings of the 17th-19th centuries.

9 biggest Russian museums lent their exhibits for this prioject:
State Museum of History, Moscow
The State Archive of the Russian Federation (SA RF), Moscow
State Historical-Artistic Palace And Park Museum-Preserve "Gatchina", Moscow
The Central Naval Museum, Saint Petersburg
State Museum "Tzarskoye Selo"
Yaroslavl History and Architecture Museum
State Museum Preserve Pavlovsk, Saint Petersburg
State Museum of Ceramics and Kuskovo Residence of the 18th Century
History and Architecture Museum-Reserve Ipatyevsky Monastery

M. E. Shvydkoi, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation about the exhibition

Vitalii Ignatenko, Director general of ITAR-TASS about the exhibition

Virtual Catalogue and Articles

The History Of Russian Court Etiquette Article by A.I. Barkovetz, Ph.D. in History Exhibits from Pavlovsk, Gatchina and Tzarskoe Selo

Our Friendly Relations With Our Good Neighbour Article by A.I. Barkovetz, Ph.D. in History About the two visits of Russian Great Princes to Japan. Exhibits from The State Archive and The Central Naval Museum

Jewellery Masterpieces Of Russian Craftsmen. XIX — Early XX Centuries. Article by Galina G. Smorodinova, The Senior Expert of the State Museum of History Exhibts from State Museum of History

Gold And Silver Craft And Jewellery Art In Russia Article by Tatiana I. Sizova, State Museum of History, Moscow, Ph.D. in History Exhibts from State Museum of History

Egyptian service from the collection of Museum of Ceramics and Kuskovo Estate Article by T.A. Mozzhukhina and O.A. Egorova, Museum of Ceramics

Orthodox Art Descriptions of XV-XVII century icons from Ipatyevsky Monastery collection Exhibits from Museum-Reserve Ipatyevsky Monastery and Yaroslavl History and Architecture Museum