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The story of Fabergé Easter Eggs

Where does the fascination for the Fabergé egg collection come from? The recipe includes: the incredible skill with which they were made, the huge value of the bids for their purchase in recent years, the surprise that each egg hides and perhaps most importantly, the close connection of the collection with the fate of the Romanov family and an important piece of history of Russia – the end of the 19th century and until 1917, the year of the assassination of the tsar and his family.

The author of the pieces is the jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, who became due to his talent and reputation, the jeweler of the imperial court during the reign of Tsar Alexander III.

Before starting his career, Carl Fabergé traveled extensively in Europe on the so-called “grand tour”, a traditional journey made by young people in high society, meant to enhance their culture and of course social relations. . He thus had the opportunity to become acquainted with Renaissance and Baroque art from all over Europe, for which he had a strong passion since visiting the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. This passion is fully reflected in the pieces that made him famous – imperial Easter eggs.

In Orthodox Russia, the most important holiday was consideredEaster,and according to tradition, believers took colored eggs to church to be consecrated and then offered to family and acquaintances. Thus, in the 19th century, a new fashion appeared among the high society – to give gifts to relatives and close eggs-jewelry.

1885 – Tsar Alexander III asks Fabergé to create such an egg to give as a gift to his wife, Maria Fedorovna, to mark the 20th anniversary of his marriage. This is how the first Fabergé egg was born: the hen’s egg. It is made of gold, covered with white enamel and hides inside it another egg, the yolk, also made of gold which in turn hides a hen, what do you think? all of gold. The Empress was so delighted with the gift that from then, from 1885, every year, until 1917, the tradition was continued.

The most expensive piece created was the egg “Winter”from 1913, carved in crystal and beaten with diamonds in the shape of ice stars. It was valued at 24,600 rubles at the time, which in current money would mean2.36 million pounds.

The surprise of this egg is a basket with anemones hidden inside it. The basket is made of platinum, the flowers are white quartz, nephrite, gold and green garnets and the muscle at the base of the stems is green gold. The egg was sold at auction in NY in 2002 for $9.6 million.

1891– The egg“Memory of Azov” made to mark the voyage of the son of Tsar Alexander III, the future Tsar Nicholas II, around the world, aboard the ship Pamiat Azov.

The surprise is a miniature replica, of gold, platinum and precious stones, of the ship. On the outside, the egg is covered in green enamel and gold and diamond decorations.

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1892 – One of my favorites, the “Diamond Braid Egg” was carved in pale green jade and is clad in a gold diamond net.

The lost pedestal was composed of 3 angels representing the 3 boys of Tsar Alexander III and Mary Fedorovna: Nicholas, George and Michael.

Unfortunately, the surprise was also lost – an elephant decorated with diamonds carrying a tower behind it – the highest distinction of Denmark since the 15th century. This detail reminded of the origin of the country.

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1895– The first imperial egg offered by Tsar Nicholas II to his wife, Alexandra Fedorovna – “Rose bud egg”. It is covered on the outside with red enamel, gold and diamond decorations and the surprise is a rose bud symbol of the tsar’s love for his wife. After the death of his father, Tsar Alexander III, Nicholas felt discouraged and unprepared to take his place, the only person who constantly supported him was Maria Fedorovna. As good as Nicolae was as a husband and father, so bad is said to have been as a tsar.

1897The “crowning egg” of Tsar Nicholas II. It is covered with mechanically engraved yellow enamel. In order not to chip the enamel, the holes necessary to fix the metal decorations were made under water. The surprise is a miniature replica of the chariot with which the tsar and tarina moved during the coronation procession.

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1900 – During the reign of Tsar Tsar Nicholas II, the strong industrialization of Russia took place. The railway connecting Moscow with Vladivostok, the eastern extremity of Russia, is completed: the Trans-Siberian.

The “Trans Siberian”egg has as a surprise a miniature train with a key; when the key is turned, the train goes.

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1900 – During the reign of Tsar Tsar Nicholas II, the strong industrialization of Russia took place. The railway connecting Moscow with Vladivostok, the eastern extremity of Russia, is completed: the Trans-Siberian.

The “Trans Siberian” egg has as a surprise a miniature train with a key; when the key is turned, the train goes.

1907 – The egg “Braid of Roses”was offered by the tsar to his wife at the birth of their only son – Alexei Nicholaievich.

The completion of the egg was delayed by the Russo-Japanese War of 1904.

The egg is covered with light green enamel and pink roses. Unfortunately, the surprise no longer exists – a miniature portrait of the tsar and a diamond necklace.

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1915 – The“Red Cross”egg is one of the last imperial eggs and was dedicated to the country and its daughters who helped in military hospitals for the victims of the First World War.

Other Faberge Imperial Eggs:

After the Bolshevik revolution, Lenin sold many of the coins to get currency. In 2004, 9 eggs were to be auctioned by Sotheby’s but were bought before it was replaced by Ukrainian-born Russian millionaire Victor Vekselberg. He said he spent more than $ 100 million to buy the pieces and did not plan to display them in his home but bought them because they are important to Russian culture and, he believes, are the most perfect jewelry. from the world. He also said he wants to open a museum dedicated to them in Russia.

Of the 50 Faberge eggs, 42 have survived and can be admired in important collections and museums around the world, in Europe and America.

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Fabergé: The Imperial Easter Eggs

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