The Faberge brand is synonymous with sophisticated watches and jewellery and, of course, its famous eggs. But it began with a story of passion, secrets and incredible wealth.
The success of Fabergé, arguably one of the world’s most iconic artist-jewellery brands,began as a simple - if lavish - love story.
Tzar Alexander III decided to create a bespoke jewelled egg for his wife, Empress Maria Fedorovna, in 1885 to celebrate Easter – and their 20th anniversary.
Maria, had often told her husband how, as a child, she had fallen in love a jewelled egg, owned by her Danish aunt. In secret the Tzar commissioned Peter Carl Fabergé to create the romantic gift – and the first Imperial Easter egg was born.
Easter was the most important occasion of the year in the Russian Orthodox Church and a tradition of bringing hand-coloured eggs to church to be blessed and then presented to friends and family, had evolved through the years. Among the highest echelons of St Petersburg society, the custom developed of presenting valuable jewelled Easter gifts.
Yet this first Imperial egg was by far the most exquisite. Known as the Hen Egg, it was crafted from gold, its opaque white enameled ‘shell’ opening to reveal its first surprise, a matt yellow gold yolk. This in turn opened to reveal a multi-coloured gold hen that also opened to reveal a minute diamond replica of the Imperial Crown from which a small ruby pendant egg was suspended.
The success of Fabergé, arguably one of the world’s most iconic artist-jewellery brands,began as a simple - if lavish - love story.
Tzar Alexander III decided to create a bespoke jewelled egg for his wife, Empress Maria Fedorovna, in 1885 to celebrate Easter – and their 20th anniversary.
Maria, had often told her husband how, as a child, she had fallen in love a jewelled egg, owned by her Danish aunt. In secret the Tzar commissioned Peter Carl Fabergé to create the romantic gift – and the first Imperial Easter egg was born.
Easter was the most important occasion of the year in the Russian Orthodox Church and a tradition of bringing hand-coloured eggs to church to be blessed and then presented to friends and family, had evolved through the years. Among the highest echelons of St Petersburg society, the custom developed of presenting valuable jewelled Easter gifts.
Yet this first Imperial egg was by far the most exquisite. Known as the Hen Egg, it was crafted from gold, its opaque white enameled ‘shell’ opening to reveal its first surprise, a matt yellow gold yolk. This in turn opened to reveal a multi-coloured gold hen that also opened to reveal a minute diamond replica of the Imperial Crown from which a small ruby pendant egg was suspended.
The Empress’s delight at this intriguing gift with its hidden jewelled surprises was the starting point for the yearly Imperial tradition that continued for 32 years until 1917 and produced the most opulent and captivating Easter gifts the world has ever seen.
The eggs were private and personal gifts, and the whole spectacular series charted the romantic and tragic story leading up to the end of the mighty Romanovs.
Each egg, an artistic tour de force, took a year or more to make, involving a team of highly skilled craftsmen, who worked in the greatest secrecy. Fabergé was given complete freedom in the design and execution, with the only prerequisite being that there had to be surprise within each creation.
Dreaming up each complex concept, Fabergé often drew on family ties, events in Imperial Court life, or the milestones and achievements of the Romanov dynasty. The Fifteenth Anniversary Egg of 1911, commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of Nicholas II’s accession to the throne and the Romanov Tercentenary Egg of 1913 celebrated 300 years of the House of Romanov, showing portrait miniatures of the Russian dynastic rulers.
Of the 50 eggs made for the Imperial family from 1885 through to 1916, 43 have survived and are exhibited in museums and privately all around the world. The Queen owns three Imperial Eggs as part of the Royal Collection. One is the Mosaic egg, commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II for Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, for Easter 1914. Inside the diamond and ruby-encrusted egg, is a miniature medallion painted on ivory with the portraits of the five children of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. It was purchased by King George V for £250.
The Fabergé name lives on as one of the world’s most revered jewellery and timepiece brands. Current collections – often inspired by the past - are available at Fabergé boutiques in New York and London, as well as at Harrods.
And still men and women buy their creations – as a token of love.
