The exhibit of the museum presents a photograph of a yacht figurine. It was specially made for Ivan Bunin by the famous jewellery firm of Carl Fabergé. The boat’s deck and sails are made of silver. The sails are fastened with a silver pole with a small flag at the top, and one of them with the “IB” monogram. The lower part of the yacht is made of crystal, and the name “Vera” is engraved on the silver rim put on it. That was the name of the second wife of the writer – Vera Muromtseva-Bunina.
Ivan Bunin had this yacht at the end of October 1912. Then the writer celebrated his creative anniversary – the 25th anniversary of his literary activity – and received many congratulatory letters, telegrams and gifts. For example, the famous actor and friend of Bunin Vasily Kachalov wrote: “Your talent always and invariably awakens in me one very important and dear feeling for me – the love of life. You love life and know how to infect me with your love. … Life is good, life is good – sounds in my soul when I read your works”.
But the most original gift was a crystal yacht. It was presented to Bunin by the writer Nikolai Teleshov.
This boat was especially dear to Ivan Alekseevich. It reminded the classic of his numerous sea voyages which Bunin loved very much. The writer even dedicated the poem “In the Open Sea” to water element.
All his life Ivan Bunin was an avid traveller. In ‘Autobiographical Note’ he wrote: ‘I have been to Turkey more than once, along the shores of Asia Minor, in Greece, in Egypt, right up to Nubia, travelled through Syria, Palestine, was in Oran, Algeria, Constantinople, Tunisia and on the outskirts of the Sahara, sailed to Ceylon’. This lifestyle, which the writer led at the beginning of the twentieth century, diversified his work significantly: bright images and exotic motives appeared in Bunin’s works.
Ivan Bunin had this yacht at the end of October 1912. Then the writer celebrated his creative anniversary – the 25th anniversary of his literary activity – and received many congratulatory letters, telegrams and gifts. For example, the famous actor and friend of Bunin Vasily Kachalov wrote: “Your talent always and invariably awakens in me one very important and dear feeling for me – the love of life. You love life and know how to infect me with your love. … Life is good, life is good – sounds in my soul when I read your works”.
But the most original gift was a crystal yacht. It was presented to Bunin by the writer Nikolai Teleshov.
This boat was especially dear to Ivan Alekseevich. It reminded the classic of his numerous sea voyages which Bunin loved very much. The writer even dedicated the poem “In the Open Sea” to water element.
In the open sea there is only sky,
Water and wind. It is difficult
There is a wave,
And felucca’s gray wing heels low.
In the open sea the wind blows
Now light, then shadow – and into clouds
Azure goes through… And you are forgotten,
You are infinitely far away!
But the waves, foaming and swaying,
Walk, run towards me –
And someone with blue eyes
Looks in the flickering wave.
And something free, alive,
Like this blue water
Again, again reminds
What is forgotten forever!
Water and wind. It is difficult
There is a wave,
And felucca’s gray wing heels low.
In the open sea the wind blows
Now light, then shadow – and into clouds
Azure goes through… And you are forgotten,
You are infinitely far away!
But the waves, foaming and swaying,
Walk, run towards me –
And someone with blue eyes
Looks in the flickering wave.
And something free, alive,
Like this blue water
Again, again reminds
What is forgotten forever!
All his life Ivan Bunin was an avid traveller. In ‘Autobiographical Note’ he wrote: ‘I have been to Turkey more than once, along the shores of Asia Minor, in Greece, in Egypt, right up to Nubia, travelled through Syria, Palestine, was in Oran, Algeria, Constantinople, Tunisia and on the outskirts of the Sahara, sailed to Ceylon’. This lifestyle, which the writer led at the beginning of the twentieth century, diversified his work significantly: bright images and exotic motives appeared in Bunin’s works.
