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From 1547, when Ivan the Terrible declared himself tsar of Russia, to 1712, when Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg, one of the highlights of Moscow court life was the formal presentation of diplomatic gifts to the tsar. These fabulous offerings have been preserved intact in the Moscow Kremlin Armory, in a collection that cannot be matched by any other royal treasury in the world.

Now many of these objects are published in this gloriously illustrated volume -- the first in English on the subject -- that accompanies a major exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Ranging from arms and armor and exquisite textiles to spectacular works in gold and silver, gifts received by the tsars are masterpieces of the decorative arts -- and afford a fascinating glimpse of international relations during a period when Russia emerged as a world power.

Focusing on the diplomatic gifts presented to Russian tsars from Ivan the Terrible to Peter the Great, this detailed and well-researched work serves as the catalog of a traveling exhibition now showing at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. General editors Walton (art history, NYU) and Shifman (curator of decorative arts, Indianapolis Museum of Art) have assembled exquisite photography of the 95 gifts selected for the exhibition, along with seven essays. The photos reveal the splendor of Russian court life, while the essays focus on different aspects of diplomacy and Russian foreign relations, as well as on treasures ranging from gold and silver to furs and textiles to jewelry and decorative arts. The catalog is arranged by the gifts' country or empire of origin, and each section is accompanied by brief introductory remarks about each of the treasures on view. The book concludes with short biographies of each of the tsars, patriarchs, and donors. This dazzling and fascinating book is essential for any collection on Russian culture and history and is highly recommended for art collections in general. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.