The State Department has released its listing of gifts the White House received from foreign dignitaries in 2011, and it includes a pretty eclectic mix of strange and spectacular presents.
The President doesn't get to hang on to gifts valued over $350, but he won't reject them either — as the report notes "non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to [the] donor and U.S. government — so they'll head to a growing collection at the National Archives.
Quite notably, it was not the government of France that were the biggest gift givers, although they appeared on the list 16 times. Instead, that honor went to the tiny African nation of Gabon— which gave a mask sculpture with an estimated value of more than $52,000.
The Governor of Rio de Janeiro gave him an expensive digital print from artist Vik Muniz.
The print from the "Pictures of Trash" collection, measures 51" x 40" and is titled "Marat (Sebastiao)."
Inspired from 18th-century artist David's "Death of Marat" painting, Muniz recreated the old painting using trash from a Brazilian landfill. He gave back most of the money he made from sales of the work to "pickers" searching for recyclable materials.
He also gave five different personalized soccer jerseys from Brazilian teams, along with other Rio souvenirs.
Estimated value: $40,000
Germany gave a very interesting minimalist chess set.
The German government gave a very expensive Bauhaus chess set designed by Josef Hartwig.
The set came in a carrying box with sliding top and featured a lightly-covered wood board and pieces carved into the shape they could move on the board.
Estimated value: $554
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also gave Obama some gear for the golf course.
The President received a high-end Kramski putter set, starting with a 35" HPP 340 putter and two head covers.
Merkel also threw in some items to help Obama get better on the putting green, including a "teal HPT 40 training console, HPS 30 Aim Aid set, book title: “The Kramski Putt Philosophy.”
Estimated value: $1,400
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