Courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Museum, National Archives & Records Administration.
The Tale of the Golden Cockerel
Artifact ID1986.00842.02
Object Type
Painting
Gifter
Eduard Shevardnadze
Date
20th Century
Medium
Wood, Lacquer
Dimensions14 × 8 1/2 in. (35.6 × 21.6 cm)
Physical DescriptionA black lacquer plaque painted with a medieval scene. There is a king in a green and yellow robe over a white robe with red and yellow trim, a gold cloak with a ruby pin closure, and a gold crown. He is seated on a red and gold throne. In front of the dais is a sorcerer in a red robe with a blue and gold star design and green cuffs, a blue cape, and a green pointed hat with a white veil. He is holding a golden cockerel in his right hand, which is surrounded by a green pointed halo. Sitting next to the steps leading up to the dais is a jester in pink and blue with a blue and white hat and green and yellow boots, holding a green sack. There is a burgundy runner leading to the throne with a gold design, trimmed in blue and gold diamonds, a gold and burgundy patterned carpet, and red curtains with a gold floral design on the back of the throne. Behind the throne is an archway with stylized buildings, towers, and trees behind it.
The back of the plaque is painted black with two bump outs. There is a white sticker in the center with typed letters: “THIS HAND-MADE LACQUER PAINTING WAS CREATED BY FAMOUS FEDOSKINO CRAFTERSMEN AFTER ALEXANDER PUSHKIN’S FAIRY-TALE ‘LITTLE GOLDEN COCKEREL.’”Historical NoteThe painting was sent to the White House for President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan after Eduard Shevardnadze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, met with President Reagan in the Oval Office on September 19, 1986.
The Tale of the Golden Cockerel was a Russian fairy tale written by Alexander Pushkin in 1834. Though warlike in his youth Tsar Dadon wanted peace in his old age, but his neighbors attacked his kingdom on all sides. In return for a favor, a sorcerer gave him a golden cockerel who would crow in advance of an attack and turn in the direction of the danger. After years of peace, the cockerel crowed, and the Tsar sent first his oldest son and then his younger son with armies. With still no news, the Tsar went himself and found the bodies of his sons and their armies, who appeared to have killed each other. As he wept he met a princess who put him under her spell, and he returned to his castle with her. The sorcerer stopped them and asked for the princess to fulfill the Tsar's promise, but he killed the sorcerer instead. The golden cockerel then landed on his head and pecked him, and he died. The golden cockerel flew away and the princess vanished
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was a gift from a foreign official to President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan during the Reagan administration. It was received through the Executive Office of the President Office of Correspondence and maintained there until its transfer to the National Archives in January, 1989 for deposit with the Reagan Presidential Library.
National Archives Catalog CollectionRecords of the White House Gift Unit (Reagan Administration) (National Archives Identifier 6816362) and
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Foreign Officials (National Archives Identifier 6816364)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Possibly
Use Restriction NoteCopyright or other proprietary rights may be held by individuals or entities other than the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.
Country/Culture
In Collection(s)
