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Getting rid of undesired presents might be seen as slightly impolite – unless it's done for a noble purpose.

A Charitable Clear-Out

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell around 270 gifts given to her by international figures while abroad. The eclectic collection could include objects like a miniature chainsaw-holding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.

The collection, combined, are valued at around €800,000. They will be put up for sale via competitive bidding by a Rome-based art dealer. The specific date is yet to be set, but the aim is to hold the auction by year's end, with the proceeds going to a selection of charitable causes.

Palazzo Chigi Collection

The items are said to be stored in a repository on the third floor of Palazzo Chigi. It has been reported that Meloni is also intending to auction off gifts given to her political forerunners that have been gathering dust indefinitely.

The detailed catalog is yet to be made public, but a glimpse was gleaned earlier this year when a detailed register of all declared gifts was presented in parliament. The discussion centered on if a legal value limit was being honored. According to regulation, a prime minister cannot take home presents exceeding €300.

A Global Assortment of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A woven wrap from the Albanian prime minister, reportedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A customary Indian garment from the Indian leader.
• A case of jewelry from the president of Slovakia.
• A porcelain tea set and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
• A tablet from the Ukrainian president.
• Artworks from Moldova.
• An assortment including makeup, a skateboard, and several rugs received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Possibly the strangest gifts included the statuette from Milei and the blue python skin shoes," reports suggest.

Political Backdrop

Meloni has been credited, mainly from within her party, with building relationships with international counterparts and positioning Italy as a significant player on the global scene once again.

This unique auction represents a novel approach to deal with the diplomatic artifacts that are collected during a political career.