"The Russian ambassador presented to the secretary general an axe, a tomahawk, with the intention, as he said, that we should find a way to bury the hatchet," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
The idea was that NATO and Russia "should find a shovel and bury the hatchet," he said.
Relations between the old Cold War foes have been testy of late.
Russia has suspended a key arms pact in protest against the refusal of NATO nations to ratify it. US missile defence plans endorsed by the alliance are also complicating ties as are differences over Kosovo.
Appathurai said that Rogozin, 44, "has made it clear that he comes in partnership and wants to find a way to make the NATO-Russia relationship work even better than it has until now."
"He has also not shied away from pointing out that there are areas of monumental difference," the spokesman said, describing the ambassador, a hardline nationalist, as "an eloquent advocate for his country."
No photograph of Russia's gift being handed over was available, as owing to tight security at the world's biggest military alliance, the tomahawk had to be sent as a package and could not be handed over in person.
"You can't just walk into the secretary general's office carrying an axe," one official said.
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