In this lunchtime lecture, Gregory Irvine looks at gifts exchanged between Japan and Britain from the early seventeenth century, with a particular focus on the nineteenth century. 

This was a time when western powers made inroads into Japan and centuries of samurai rule came to an end – but not lightly. While discussing some of the gifts that formed diplomatic exchanges there will be tales of bloody samurai attacks on diplomats - as well as pondering on the fate of an unopened bottle of sake…

Gregory Irvine was formerly Senior Curator, Japan at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and on retiring now holds the position of Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the V&A.

This lecture is one of a series on "Collecting" held in collaboration with Japan House London.