What did ruling families give Tito? - The Museum of Yugoslav Histroy to host the Imperial gifts exhibition from July 21 until August 25

Emperor Haile Selassie delivering a gift to Josip Broz Tito (Photo: Olaf&McAteer)

The exhibition "Imperial gifts" presents an exclusive range of gifts which Josip Broz Tito received when meeting members of the ruling families from eighteen countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Fifty unique items of exceptional artistic workmanship, created in the famous workshops around the world have been exhibited. They have been divided into five sections: archaeological, usable and decorative items, jewelry and decorations. The selected exhibits date from VII century BC until the mid XX century. Precious metals, precious stones and the finest porcelain were used in their manufacture.

Objects, documents and photographs will enable visitors to meet the rules and customs which follow the exchange of gifts of statesmen, which makes this exhibition even more interesting. Gifts have symbolic significance in all cultures, and the exchange of gifts at the highest level is determined by precise protocol - from the choice of gifts, depending on the occasion, interests, tastes and status of the person it is intended for, the act of giving to the documentation that accompanies the gift and subsequent storage of donated items. Among donors are the English Queen Elizabeth II, Shah of Iran Reza Pahlavi, the Greek king Paul, Cambodian Prince Sihanouk, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie...

The exhibition will be open from July 21 until August 25, every day except Monday from 10a.m. to 20 p.m. In the rehabilitated space of the Museum 25. maj, the Imperial gifts will receive full splendor to the satisfaction of domestic visitors, but also a large number of tourists who are expressing exceptional interest in objects from the Museum of Yugoslav History Fund. Curators are Veselinka Kastratović Ristic and Momo Cvijovic while Mina Milovancevic is in charge of the exhibition layout.