The diplomatic beard:

‘George Killingworth, a political agent of Queen Elizabeth, was sent upon a mission to the court of Ivan the Terrible. (Grandson of Ivan the Great)
Killingworth had a grand beard, measuring five feet, two inches in length. It was a glorious shade of yellow, quite broad and thick. Ivan was delighted by it and could not resist playing with it after luncheon. Others were allowed to touch it, too.’