Faberge Egg

Peter Carl Fabergé, also known as Carl Gustavovich Fabergé was a Russian jeweler, best known for the fabulous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, using precious metals and gemstones. He was born May 30, 1846 in St. Petersburg to the jeweler Gustav Fabergé and his Danish wife Charlotte Jungstedt. Gustav Fabergé's father's family were Huguenots who lived in La Bouteille, Picardie, in France, but fled from after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The family moved first close to Berlin Germany. In 1800 they have moved again, this time to the Baltic province of Livonia, then part of Russia.

The young Faberge went to school at St. Anne's Gymnasium, the German school in St. Petersburg. In 1860, the family moved again, this time back to Germany, Dresden. Not long after that, Carl who was in his teen years, embarked on a study trip, learning the jeweler's craft at the House of Friedman in Frankfurt. In 1864, he returned to St. Petersburg and joined his father's business, taking over its management fully by 1872.

Carl and his younger brother Agaton, also a talented jewelry designer, stole the show at the Pan-Russian Exhibition in Moscow, 1882. Three years later, Tsar Alexander III appointed Carl an official Court Supplier, as a recognition for the superbly executed Easter egg Faberge created for the Tsarina as a gift. Hencefroth, Fabergé had the task to design an egg each year for the Tsarina Maria. The next Tsar, Nicholas II, ordered two eggs each year from 1885 to 1917; one as a gift for his mother and one for his wife, Alexandra.

Faberge became the Tsar's official Court Goldsmith in 1885. The Imperial Easter eggs were by far not his only accomplishment; Fabergé made silver tableware and beautiful fine jewelry items as well. Fabergé's company became the largest in Russia, with 500 employees and branches in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Odessa, Kiev and London. It produced approximately 150,000 objects between 1882 and 1917. In 1897 the Swedish court also appointed Fabergé Court Goldsmith. In 1900 his work represented Russia at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris, with enormous success, as one can imagine after looking at his breathtaking style of minute details.

He died September 24, 1920.

Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carl_Faberg%C3%A9

Picture: The famous Azova Faberge Egg

1891 - Azova

This egg is carved from a solid piece of heliotrope jasper (a type of jasper with unparalleled texture). It is decorated in Louis XV style, with yellow gold scrolls and brilliant diamonds. The broad fluted gold bezel is set with a ruby pendant clasp. A tiny replica of the ship Pamiat Azova in solid gold, set on a piece of aquamarine, is hidden inside the egg.

1898 - Lilies-of-the-Valley

Solid gold egg, enameled translucent rose on a guilloche field and supported on four dull green gold cabriolet legs composed of overlapping leaves (veined with rose diamonds). The egg is surmounted by a miniature replica of the Imperial Crown, which is embellished with rose diamond and ruby cabochons. The decoration includes two bows and four lines of rose diamonds, as well as tiny flowers (lilies-of-the-valley)composed of pearls and rose diamonds.

The surprise effect is created by three oval miniatures that become visible when on opens a door to each. The first one depicts Nicholas II in military uniform, and the other two show the Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana, his first two children. The miniature picture frames are bordered in rose diamonds.

1893 - Caucasus

Varicolored gold garlands held by diamond bow-knots mount this gold egg, overload with vibrant ruby enamel on a guilloche' under-glaze. An extraordinary table-top diamond, gem-encircled, crowns the object; another completes the base.

Depicting views of a mountain retreat high in the Caucasus where the Grand Duke George, younger brother of Nikolai II spent most of his life, due to being ill. Miniatures painted by Krijitski are revealed upon opening the four pearl-bordered doors around the egg. Each of these bears a diamond-set numeral of the year.

1894 - Renaissance

Carved from a block of milky agate, this egg, mounted horizontally on a gold enameled base, is designed as a jewel box. A beautiful, unique Renaissance style lineal pattern is combined in the applied gold trellis-work emphasized by diamonds and rubies at the intersections. The enamels alternate between the color of emerald, ruby and lapis-lazuli blue.

A scalloped trace of diamonds on the lid encloses a ruby-enameled medallion, decorated by foliage motifs. The year 1894 is set in genuine diamonds. Gold heraldic lions' heads fulfill the role of handles. The opening is secured by a tiny gold and diamond latch. Engagingly designed inner rims are developed in opaque white enameling and gold floral pattern.

1897 - Dowager Empress Maria Fiodorovna

his egg commemorates the the 100th year (centennial) of the patronage of charitable institutions by the Empresses of Russia. It is made of solid gold, and it is engraved with the commemorative dates "1797-1897"; as well as the symbols of Arts and Sciences. It is surmounted with the figure of a pelican and its young chick. Outlined in genuine diamonds and opalescent white enamel, tenets of the Christian Faith are represented, Charity and Sacrifice.

Unfolding into eight oval panels, each rimmed in genuine pearls, miniatures by Zehngraf are revealed, representing the educational institution which the Dowager Empress founded with the goal of providing education for young girls. When closed, these panels form the actual egg, ingeniously concealing the openings.

1900 - Cuckoo

Clock in dull yellow, green and red golds, enamelled opalescent white and translucent violet on a zig-zag guilloche field, set with pearls and rose diamonds. The dial, which is encircled by pearls set in red polished gold, is enameled with translucent emerald green trefoils, and the rose diamond numerals are set on pale greenish white opalescent enamel within opaque white enamel rings. A yellow gold leaf pattern surrounds the central pivot on which the red gold hands revolve.

The egg is supported on an elaborate base set with three large rose diamonds by a central shaft and three struts enameled opalescent white. When a button at the back of the clock is pressed, the circular pierced gold grille which surmounts it opens, and a cuckoo, plumed with natural feathers, set with cabochon ruby eyes, and standing on gold legs, rises crowning on a gold platform, the beak and wings moving authentically, until the crowing finished, it descends once again into the egg.

1899 - Madonna Lily

This egg is created in the shape of a clock with a revolving dial, in four colors. The solid gold egg is enameled in translucent daffodil-yellow, and is richly bejeweled with diamonds. It stands on an onyx platform decorated with gold scroll mounts, rosettes and the year 1899 indicated by genuine diamonds. It functions as a vase, with red gold scrolls providing additional support on both sides.

The belt of the dial, which divides the egg, is enameled in opaque white. The numerals are set in genuine diamonds and the hours are indicated by the head of an arrow in a drawn bow. The gold rim of the vase is embellished by a cluster of roses. A bouquet of Madonna lilies, carved from quartzite and each set with genuine rose diamonds, emerges from the vase.

1885 - 1890 Resurrection

Made between 1885 and 1890, this egg is one of Faberge's most beautiful masterpieces, exquisitely designed in Italian Renaissance style. The three gold figurines in the group are enameled and decorated with white drapery and lilac-colored wings. The grass and the ground on which the group is arranged are enameled pale green and brown with yellow freckles. The base is surrounded by a narrow belt of genuine rose diamonds.

The door is enameled to simulate marble with a coral-colored handle. The Resurrection scene is situated within a carved rock crystal egg. The two hemispheres of the crystal egg are held together by a line of genuine rose diamonds. A large pearl serves as the shaft for this egg.