Inkstand and Candlesticks
President Carter received this inkstand with candlesticks from King Hassan II of Morocco in November 1978. This set was originally crafted at the Ekaterinburg Lapidary Factory in Russia, around the turn of the century. Ekaterinburg, a city in the mineral-rich Urals, became known for the art of stone-cutting in the mid-1700s and provided many exquisite objects for the Russian Imperial family. The set is made from jasper, a semi-precious mineral from the quartz family - highly prized for its lustrous beauty, unusual color, and durability. It is believed that King Hassan II purchased the set from France and then added the decorative gold dedication medallion and the band listing all fifty states for gift presentation.

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