Head of State Gifts Given to the President

Blue porcelain vase decorated with red and yellow flowers and green foliage. There is a geometric design around the neck and foot rim.

Note: This vase was handmade by Imaemon Imaizumi XII, and presented to President Gerald R. Ford on the occasion of the Emperor and Empress’s state visit to the United States. It was the first time an Emperor and Empress of Japan had visited the United States.
 

Accession Number: 1982.66
Dimensions: 11.5”H x 9.5”Dia
Donor: Gift of Emperor Hirohito and the Empress of Japan
Donation Date: October 2, 1975

The "Order of Haft Paykar" includes two medals with one suspended on a blue and white sash. The medals feature a gold-tone, metal openwork design highlighted by white enamel touching. A blue-enamel center mounting displays the constellation "Pleiades" in seven diamond chips. Housed in a blue presentation case. Given to First Lady Betty Ford by the Shah of Iran and his wife upon their visit to the United States.

Accession Number: 1988.949.3
Dimensions: 3 x 6.5 x 10.25"
Donation Date: May 23, 1975
Donor: Gift of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran

Silver replica of a Spanish Galleon ship with full detail, wire rope lines, and silver sails.

Note: Received by President Gerald R. Ford on the occasion of his State Visit to Spain.

Accession Number: 1981.69.6a
Dimensions: 11”H
Donor: Pedro Cortina Mauri, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spain
Donation Date: June 5, 1975

An oval gold metal cigarette case bears the Seal of the President of the United States on the front, and the United States Seal on the reverse. A red, white, and blue striped enamel band surrounds the hinged case, and there is a red tassel attached at the end. Inside the case is lined with dark brown suede. The cigarette case is housed in a brown padded presentation box labeled “Bulgari / New York / Roma” on the inside.

Accession Number: 1987.147a-d
Dimensions: 6”D
Donor: President Ferdinand and Mrs. Marcos of the Republic of the Philippines
Donation Date: December 6, 1975

18 piece wooden lacquered bowl set painted with red and gold floral designs against a black background. The set contains one large bowl, six small bowls, one large spoon, six small spoons, a small tray with two jigger size containers and one salt shaker.

Accession Number: 1987.116.1a-r
Dimensions: Various
Donor: Gift of Boris P. Bugayev, Minister of civil Aviation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Donation Date: November 29, 1974

Wooden carving of a mother gazelle eating with two fawns. One fawn is feeding from the mother. A metal plate on the lower part of the front of the carving bears presentation information.

Accession Number: 1989.967
Dimensions: 21”H x 15”W x 7.5”D
Donor: Gift of General Babia Zongbi Malobia, Director General of the National Defense, Zaire
Donation Date: June 17, 1976

A pair of ivory candlesticks mounted on natural wood bases. Thin black and red lines decorate the top and the bottom of the ivory. The candlesticks are enclosed in a wooden presentation box with brass hinges and key. The interior of the box has two velvet covered rests for the candlesticks and the cover of the box displays an outline of Liberia done in a darker wood inlay.

Note: From Blair House
 

Accession Number: 1987.121.1
Dimensions: 11.25”H x 4.75”Dia
Donor: Gift of President William R. Tolbert of Liberia
Donation Date: November 6, 1974

An enameled metal ashtray and cigarette container with blue and green enamel depicting a flying bird motif.

Accession Number: 1987.104.1a-b
Dimensions: 5”H
Donor: Mr. Heung-Moon Koh, Congressman, Republic of Korea
Donation Date: November 25, 1974

Pewter ewer with large central portion with spout off the proper left side, and a thin neck with stopper. On the front of the ewer is a shield engraved with the words, “Jaya Raya” with an obelisk surrounded by a floral wreath. Both the stopper and the accompanying dish are stamped with the words “Indonesian Tin Art / Handicrafts / RTA.” The ewer is enclosed in a batik covered box of brown print design with red velvet lining on the inside.
 

Note: Received on the occasion of President Gerald R. Ford’s trip to Indonesia in 1975.
 

Accession Number: 1987.152
Dimensions: 12”H x 8.25”W
Donor: General Ali Sadikin, Governor of the Special District of Djakarta, IndonesiaDonation Date: December 15, 1975

A Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Colonial Coffee-service includes a coffee pot with lid, a creamer, a sugar bowl with lid, four coffee cups, four coffee saucers, and a serving tray. Each item features the silhouette of an American Patriot such as, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and etc. Additionally, each piece has a tortoise shell glaze and a gold band around the bottom, with a gold grapevine inlay around the top. The set is housed in a mahogany case.

Note: This coffee set, with the exception of the added silhouettes, is an exact replica of a coffee set designed and produced by the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory in 1782. The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory designed the Colonial Coffee-service in commemoration of the American Bicentennial, and the factory’s bicentennial.
 

Accession Number: 1981.180.1-17
Dimensions: 18.5”H x 17”W x 16”D
Donor: Gift of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark
Donation Date: May 10, 1976

Long necklace made of cut and polished amber in irregular natural forms. The necklace is encased in a maroon leather presentation box lined with white and red silk.

Note: Gift to First Lady Betty Ford.
 

Accession Number: 1987.110.1a-b
Dimensions: 3”H x 10.5”W x 15”D
Donor: Gift of Edward Gierek, First Secretary of the Polish United Workers’ Party
Donation Date: October 9, 1974

A black clay Etruscan “Buchero” pot with small handles on either side. A border around the widest part of the pot is engraved in connected triangles.

Note: This pot was found in Vulci, Italy on February 19, 1962 at an excavation. It dates to 580/550 B.C.
 

Accession Number: 1981.177a
Dimensions: 12”H x 10”Dia
Donor: Gift of President Giovanni Leone of the Republic of Italy
Donation Date: September 25, 1974

A red glass decanter with gold and white painted design of floral scrollwork and gold painted rings around the neck of the bottle. The red glass spire stopper features a similar scroll design.

Accession Number: 1987.123a-b
Dimensions: 14”H x 8”Dia
Donor: Abdul Halim Khaddam, Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syria
Donation Date: August 30, 1974

Contemporary bronze sculpture depicting King David playing a harp while seated at his throne. The statue is mounted on a square base with four sculpted lions serving as feet for the base of the throne. The artist, Frank Meisler engraved his name at the base. There are two plaques mounted to opposite sides of the base with the words, “To President Gerald R. Ford from President Ephraim  Katzir of Israel, March 1975” in both English and Hebrew.

Accession Number: 1987.108.1
Dimensions: 15”H x 12.5”W
Donor: Gift of President Ephraim Katzir of Israel
Donation Date: March 5, 1975

Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana features a silver Mantuan cross covered on both sides with white enamel, with the arms of the cross being bordered on both sides with enameled blue and black stripes. The reverse of the cross bears the words “PRO TERRA MARIANA.” The cross is suspended from a blue sash with a gothic shield bearing three blue lions connecting the two. Included with the sash is a separate eight pointed silver star surmounted by a Cross of Terra Mariana with a golden gothic shield with three blue lions in the center of the cross.

Note: This Order of The Cross of Terra Mariana was bestowed upon former President Gerald R. Ford in February 1996 by the Republic of Estonia as a decoration of the highest class on aliens who had rendered special services to the Republic of Estonia.
 

Accession Number: 2007.78.39
Dimensions: 3.25”H x 3.25”W
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: May 22, 2007

Ceramic, concave plate displays the San Jose de Mayo coat of arms featuring the flag of Uruguay, a red diagonal stripe with sabers and laurel branches superimposed on top, and a rising sun. Above the crest is a scroll inscribed “San Jose de Mayo,” and the plate is encircled with three rows of decorative scrollwork. The back of the plate is engraved “Serasconi / San Jose / Uruguay / 75.”

Note: This plate was sent to commemorate the 199th anniversary of the United States. It was broken in transit from the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay the State Department.
 

Accession Number: 1987.133.1
Dimensions: 2.25”H x 12”Dia
Donor: Cnel Juan J. Molina, Senior Intendente Municipal de San Jose, Uruguay
Donation Date: December 4, 1975

A hand-turned and carved ivory chess set containing 16 black and 16 white pieces. The chessboard is made of wood with ornate floral carvings around the playing surface. The playing surface has alternating squares of ivory and wood inlay. The board is hinged in the center for storage, and inside is lined with red velvet.

Accession Number: 1987.100.1
Dimensions: 1.25”H x 14”W x 14”D
Donor: Gift of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan
Donation Date: February 5, 1975

Ceremonial Sword made of iron painted black with two tree openings and one small oval opening near large end of the blade. The hilt is made from wood, carved with two heads at the end. The hilt is covered in a gold foil.

Accession Number: 1981.172
Dimensions: 27.5”H x 3”W
Donor: Samuel Ernest Quarm, Ambassador of Ghana
Donation Date: July 11, 1975

A diamond cut Val St. Lambert crystal whiskey decanter with an etched diamond design and six matching glasses engraved with the Belgian King and Queen’s monogram.

Note: Received on the occasion of a state visit to Belgium.

Accession Number: 1983.51
Dimensions: 4.5”H x 19”W x 12.75”D
Donation Date: June 6, 1975

Oval shaped, hammered silver tray with fluted edges. The rim is inlayed with marble in a mosaic design.

Accession Number: 1981.205
Dimensions: 13”H x 9”W x 1”D
Donor: Gift of Mrs. Carmen Romano de Lopez Portillo
Donation Date: September 27, 1976

Ornately painted Bicentennial Commemorative tureen painted with red, blue, and gold. An image of the White House is painted on one side, while the other side depicts a side view of Independence Hall. The tureen is displayed on a specially designed wooden base with an engraved plaque.

Accession Number: 1981.176
Dimensions: 3.75”H x 15.75”W x 12.375”D
Donor: Gift of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip of the United Kingdom
Donation Date: July 7, 1976

This silver tea set includes a tray, teapot with removable lid, spoon, and sugar cup with removable lid. Each piece features a relief floral design. The tea set is housed in a red velvet covered presentation box. The outside lid features a golden emblem of Indonesia, and a brass plaque.

Note: This tea set was presented personally to Vice President Gerald R. Ford by the Vice President of Indonesia.

Accession Number: 1982.91.1-4
Dimensions: 5”H x 13.5”W x 9.5”D
Donor: Gift of Vice President Sri Sultan Hamegku Buwono IX of Indonesia
Donation Date: July, 1974

Black sculpture of three passengers and a driver being pulled in a troika by three horses.

Note: Received on the occasion of President Gerald R. Ford’s State visit to the USSR. The sculpture was displayed in the Ford residence in Palm Springs until Mrs. Ford’s death in 2011.
 

Accession Number: 2011.23
Dimensions: 11”H x 10”W x 17”D
Donor: Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Donation Date: November 29, 1974

Large ginger jar style Chinese vase with hand painted design of two large floral wreaths and smaller floral designs throughout. The top of the neck features a gold painted ring with a ring of flowers below. The bottom of the vase is printed “Herend Hungary / 1826-1976 / Hand Painted.”

Accession Number: 1987.207.1
Dimensions: 19.75”H x 11”Dia
Donor: Gift of Dr. Gyula Szeker Deputy Chairman, Council of Ministers, Hungarian People’s Republic
Donation Date: May 6, 1976