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Faberge Eggs

 

 

Faberge Eggs

In 1885, Carl Faberge, jeweler to the Russian court, began creating exquisite, uniquely designed eggs whose beauty still inspires awe today. Though jeweled eggs have been produced in Russia for centuries, Faberge’s, firm became the first to produce high-quality and intricately-made Easter eggs containing gold, silver, and precious stones in such abundance.  Several incorporate complex winding systems and many open to display a jewelry centerpiece set in the interior.

 

The first Faberge eggs were created as annual gifts for Emperor Alexander III.  After his reign, Nicholas II continued the tradition until the monarchy fell in 1917. During these years, a dozen other Faberge eggs were created as gifts for a Siberian gold mine owner (A.F. Kelch) as well.  These gifts were so highly admired by their owners (including foreign royal families) they were often kept in a safe or hidden from view. When the Soviets need hard currency in the 1920s, may were sold or passed to new owners (most notably an American named Armand Hammer).  Today, aside from Russia, the remaining Faberge eggs belong either to Queen Elizabeth or the Forbes Collection.

 

General Production

Faberge’s eggs employ gold, silver, and/or platinum along with precious stones (pearls, diamonds, rubies, sapphires) and generally range in size from 5/8” to 2 ½”.  By adding different minerals to molten gold (such as nickel, silver, or copper), Faberge’s goldsmith produced numerous gold tints for the eggs.

 

Enameling

When enameling was called for, a glass and metal oxide mixture was applied to a metal surface to create various colors (painted enamel). Guilloche-style enameling is also used, allowing machine-engraved gold to be reflected through translucent enamel. For all-over themes, plique-a-jour and champleve enameling is used.   Incidentally, cloisonné is not used on Faberge eggs.

 

 

Well-known Faberge Eggs and their surprises:

 

Imperial Cuckoo Egg                                                  singing pop-up bird on front, clock on top front half

Imperial Lilies of the Valley Egg                               miniature portrait grouping

Imperial Standart Egg                                                miniature replica of imperial yacht in gold

Imperial Egg with Revolving Miniature                    miniature paintings on display

Imperial Caucasus Egg                                             4 miniature portraits hidden inside

First Imperial Egg (1885)                                           egg opens to reveal golden yolk, a jeweled hen is inside

Imperial Spring Flowers Egg (1885)                       opens to reveal interior jeweled egg set within velvet interior

Imperial Pamiat Azova Egg (1891)                         miniature replica of the Pamiat Azova (ship) in gold/platinum

Imperial Renaissance Egg (1894)                          lost surprise

Imperial Rosebud Egg (1895)                                  opens to reveal lifelike yellow rosebud made from enamel

Imperial Danish Palace Egg (1895)                        10 miniature screen-hinged panels displaying palaces of Danish Royal Family

Imperial Monogram Egg (1896)                               opens horizontally (lost surprise)

Imperial Pelican Egg (1897)                                     singing bird on top, clock on front

Imperial Coronation Eff (1897)                                 mini coronation coach to hold egg

Kelch Hen Egg (1898)                                                enamel hen & an small, easel portrait of Czarevich Alexei

Gold, enamel & jeweled Easter Egg (1899)          lost surprise

Imperial Madonna Lily Egg (1899)                           egg rotates horizontally to function as clock

Imperial Trans-Siberian Railway Egg (1900)        miniature 7-car railroad train that move

Pine Cone Egg (1900)                                               small grey elephant with Indian on top

Bonbonniere Egg (1900)                                           no surprise

Imperial Clover Egg (1902)                                       all-over clovers made from diamonds & enamels

Imperial Gatchina Palace Egg (1902)                     gold miniature replica of Gatchina Palace

Imperial Peter the Great Egg (1903)                       miniature statue of Peter the Great charging on horse

Imperial Uspensky Cathedral Egg (1904)             music box

Imperial Rose Trellis Egg (1907)                            all-over jeweled texture pattern (lost surprise)

Imperial Colonnade Egg (1907)                              Greek Temple of Love with revolving roof clock on top

Imperial Alexander III Equestrian Egg (1910)        statue replica of czar Alexander on horse

Imperial Fifteenth-Anniversary Egg (1911)             18 panels related to imperial family (events)

Imperial Orange Tree Egg (1911)                            little bird pops up from concealed lid on top when pressed

Imperial Czarevich Egg (1912)                                 double-headed imperial eagle encrusted in diamonds

Imperial Napoleonic Egg (1912)                              egg constructed from 6 (in octagonal shape)

Imperial Romanov Tercentenary Egg (1913)        18 small, circular portraits of Romanov rulers on ivory

Imperial Mosaic Egg (1914)                                      an enameled, jeweled stand

Imperial Cameo Egg (1914)                                     sedan chair carried by 2-bearers, Catherine the Great inside

Imperial Red Cross Egg (1915)                               5-panel folding screens depicting & Czarina Alexandra and her 4 daughters in Red Cross nursing uniforms

Imperial Cross of St. George Egg (1916)               hidden portraits

 

Bibliography

Faberge Eggs: Masterpieces from Czarist Russia by Susanna Pfeffer. Hugh Lauter Levin Associate