Russian Academy of Sciences
Peter the Great’s Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer)

March - September, 2002

The Admiral's Gift. The Mug from Norway

    Konstantin Nikolevich. Possiet (1819-1899), the well-known Russian statesman, the admiral of the Russian Navy, the member of the Russian Geographical Society, the honourable member of the Russian Academy of Sciences left, by his last will, in 1899 to the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer) a number of objects from different countries which he visited. Among them was a wooden carved mug for beer which he brought from Norway in 1870.
    That year admiral Possiet was the commander of the group of three battle ships sent to the northern seas by the Russian emperor Alexander II. In addition to some scientific tasks accomplished under the guidance of academician A.F.Middendorf, the admiral's flagship Varyag had to visit some Northeen Norwegian seaports to solve some boundary questions.
    Grand Duke Alexander Alekseevich (1850-1908) participated in that voyage as lieutenant of the Russian Navy. This fact added great importance to the visit. The guests were shown warm hospitality in all of the Norwegian seaports.
    The wooden mug was brought from this journey as an example of mastership of the Norwegian wood-carving masters of the XIX century. The handicraft of wood-carving started in Norway during the Viking times. The carved wooden sculptures decorated the medieval Norwegian churches, carved vessels were commonly used in the household.
    The Norwegian masters returned to the ancient tradition in the XIX century . Lars Kinsarvik was very interested in the ancient Viking style. Ole Olsen-Moene developed his own style based on Baroque - that we can be seen on this mug.
    The exhibition was supported by the General Consulate of the Kingdom of Norway in St.Petersburg