Not all that glitters is a Fabergé egg. There exists only 52 Easter eggs made by the jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé (for the Russian royalty) between 1885 and 1917. Fabergé eggs are made of precious metals or stones decorated with enamel and gems, The objects of luxury and masterpieces of the jeweller's art.
Fabergé and his goldsmiths designed and constructed the first egg in 1885. It was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III as an Easter surprise for his wife. On the outside it looked like a simple egg of white enamelled gold, but it opened up to reveal a golden yolk. The yolk contained a golden hen, which in turn nested a tiny crown with a ruby inside, reminiscent of the matryoshka nesting dolls. The First Imperial Hen Egg, 1885, above (Forbes Collection, New York).
His wife was so delighted by this gift that the Tsar appointed Fabergé a "Court Supplier" and commissioned an Easter egg each year thereafter, stipulating only that it be unique and contain a surprise. Nicholas II continued the tradition, expanding it to include an annual gift for his wife Alexandra Fyodorovna as well as his now-widowed mother.
As the House of Fabergé prospered, due in no small part to imperial patronage, the making of the eggs became elaborate projects that took up an entire year, assembled by teams of artisans.
57 eggs were produced in all.
Several have since disappeared in looting. Stalin sold 14 to raise cash, some for as little as $400.
Fabergé and his goldsmiths designed and constructed the first egg in 1885. It was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III as an Easter surprise for his wife. On the outside it looked like a simple egg of white enamelled gold, but it opened up to reveal a golden yolk. The yolk contained a golden hen, which in turn nested a tiny crown with a ruby inside, reminiscent of the matryoshka nesting dolls. The First Imperial Hen Egg, 1885, above (Forbes Collection, New York).
His wife was so delighted by this gift that the Tsar appointed Fabergé a "Court Supplier" and commissioned an Easter egg each year thereafter, stipulating only that it be unique and contain a surprise. Nicholas II continued the tradition, expanding it to include an annual gift for his wife Alexandra Fyodorovna as well as his now-widowed mother.
As the House of Fabergé prospered, due in no small part to imperial patronage, the making of the eggs became elaborate projects that took up an entire year, assembled by teams of artisans.
57 eggs were produced in all.
Several have since disappeared in looting. Stalin sold 14 to raise cash, some for as little as $400.
No comments:
Post a Comment