Bread Dish Presented to Nicholas II

Very rare carved wooden bread dish presented to Nicholas II during one of his visits to the Crimea. The center is decorated with a large cipher of Nicholas II surrounded by various agricultural tools. Cyrillic inscription reads, "BREAD SALT ,"(at the top) and, "FROM LOYAL JEWISH FARMERS of THE KHERSON COLONY AND EKATERINOSLAVSK PROVINCE" (at the bottom). Diameter 14 1/2 in. (36,8 cm). The dish is in excellent condition, just a small chip to the first letter at the top.

It is an old Russian tradition to greet a dear guest with bread and salt. A loaf of bread is placed on a wooden dish and topped with a salt cellar. According to the tradition, a guest should taste a small piece of bread dipped in salt and than accept the dish. Usually, a bread dish came with a white towel decorated with greetings.

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Nicholas II is greeted with bread and salt.

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