‘Fabergé is an incomparable genius of our time’ - this is how Maria Feodorovna once spoke so flatteringly of the jewellery master in a letter to her sister, the English Queen consort Alexandra.
A descendant of a family of jewellers of German origin, Carl Fabergé was born in St. Petersburg, where he founded his company in 1842 and lived and worked until the revolution. While other colleagues in the jewellery shop adhered to classical styles in their products, Carl Fabergé was fascinated by the Art Nouveau style.
In 1882, at the All-Russian Art and Industry Exhibition in Moscow, Fabergé's products attracted the attention of the monarchs: Emperor Alexander III and his wife Maria Feodorovna. At the Nuremberg Fine Arts Exhibition, copies of the Scythian treasures received a gold medal, and their creator received the right to stamp the products with the double-headed eagle branding.
‘If the whole value of expensive things lies only in the multitude of diamonds or pearls, then they do not interest me much, ’ - said Fabergé. The master even used steel and tin in his works of art. And brooches made of Karelian birch, in which he embedded diamonds, thanks to Fabergé became fashionable.
The real fame in the world jewellery art was brought to the Fabergé firm by a series of jewellery in the form of Easter eggs. Eggs were created in 1885-1917 by orders of the Russian Imperial House and private buyers. The shape of the egg, the surprise inside, the uniqueness. The three components are the main secular intrigue of every bright Easter holiday in the imperial family
One of the principles of the Fabergé jewellery house. Ural, Altai and Transbaikal semi-precious stones were used. Pendants in the form of Easter eggs cost no more than a pound of good tea. Individual workshops produced photo frames, perfume bottles, brooches, orders - for every need and budget.
A unique library of the rarest albums and catalogues presented at the auction, many years collected for attribution, evaluation and education of one large collector of products of the famous firm. Many lots from this library will be presented in a public sale for the first time.
The auction will take place on 30 April at 7pm (Moscow time). In total, you are waiting for more than 600 rare and colourful editions, in its entirety revealing the mastery of jewellery art of Carl Fabergé and jewellers who worked with him.
Most of the library is located in London. Due to the huge interest in the auction not only in Russia but also abroad, lots will be delivered from the London office to buyers in Russia after the sale.
