"STATE GIFTS" are divided into two subcategories:

(1) "STATE GIFTS FROM THE MEDICI COURT TO FOREIGN COURTS"

(2) "STATE GIFTS TO THE MEDICI COURT FROM FOREIGN COURTS"

"STATE GIFTS TO THE MEDICI COURT FROM FOREIGN COURTS" can be narrowed to target, (1) gifts from a specific individual (i.e. FROM: Austria Baltasar Carlos) or (2) gifts from a specific place at any level of specificity (ie. FROM: San Lorenzo de El Escorial-- Madrid (province)-- Madrid (region)-- España-- Europe-- World).

In defining searches, it is well to remember that courts usually traveled with the ruler and that modern geo-political divisions do not necessarily express historical configurations (i.e. the current Italian province of "Mantova" is not exactly coextensive with the historic Dukedom of Mantua.)

Since the prince was in effect the state, all gifts from any member of a princely court are cross-indexed to the ruling head of the family. (Therefore the most effective way to search ALL state gifts to the Medici Court from the French Court from 1589 to 1610 is to search "STATE GIFTS TO THE MEDICI COURT FROM: ..." AND "BOURBON HENRI IV".)

It is sometimes unclear whether objects acquired by princes and officials were in fact gifts or purchases; when in doubt, they are treated as "STATE GIFTS". References to "STATE GIFTS" are frequently cross-indexed with such topics as "ART COLLECTING", "GOLD AND SILVERWORK", "LUXURY TEXTILES" and "PIETRE DURE", etc. For the gift of exchange of state portraits, see also "PORTRAITS" in the "PEOPLE" index.

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