Fabergé egg
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225826728
2008-07-15T16:09:03Z
Gareth E Kegg
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RV bizzare edits.
[[Image:Moscow Kremlin Egg.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Moscow Kremlin (Fabergé Egg)|Moscow Kremlin]] egg, 1906.]]
[[Image:Madonna Lily Egg.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Bouquet of Lilies Clock (Fabergé egg)|Bouquet of Lilies Clock egg]].]]
A '''Fabergé egg''' is any one of sixty-nine<ref>http://www.mieks.com/Faberge2/Eggs.htm List of Fabergé eggs from mieks.com</ref> [[Jewelery|jeweled]] eggs made by [[Peter Carl Fabergé]] and his assistants between 1885 and 1917.
Fifty Imperial Fabergé Easter eggs were made and presented to Czars [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]] and [[Nicholas II of Russia]]<ref>The Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs,by Fabergé, Skurlov, Proler, London, 1997, page 90. ISBN 0-90343-248-X</ref>. A further two eggs were planned but not delivered, the ''[[Constellation (Fabergé egg)|Constellation]]'' and ''[[Karelian Birch (Fabergé egg)|Karelian Birch]]'' eggs of 1917.
Seven of the eggs were made for the Kelch family of Moscow.<ref>http://www.mieks.com/Faberge2/Kelch-Eggs/Kelch-Eggs.htm Story of the Kelch eggs from mieks.com</ref>
The eggs are made of precious metals or hard stones decorated with combinations of [[Vitreous enamel|enamel]] and gem stones. The term "Fabergé Egg" has become a synonym of luxury and the eggs are regarded as masterpieces of the jeweler's art.
==History==
Carl Fabergé and his [[goldsmith]]s designed and constructed the first egg in 1885. It was commissioned by Czar [[Alexander III of Russia]] as an [[Easter]] surprise for his wife [[Dagmar of Denmark|Maria Fyodorovna]].<ref>http://www.mieks.com/Faberge2/1885-Hen-Egg.htm Article on the first Hen egg</ref>
On the outside it looked like a simple egg of white [[vitreous enamel|enamel]]led [[gold]], but it opened up to reveal a golden yolk. The yolk itself had a golden hen inside it, which in turn had a tiny crown with a [[ruby]] hanging inside, reminiscent of the [[Matryoshka doll|matryoshka nesting dolls]].
Empress Maria was so delighted by this gift that Alexander appointed Fabergé a "Court Supplier" and commissioned an Easter gift each year thereafter, stipulating only that it be unique and contain a surprise. His son, [[Nicholas II of Russia]] continued the tradition, annually presenting an egg each spring to his wife [[Alexandra of Hesse|Alexandra Fyodorovna]] as well as his then-widowed mother.
From 1885, the eggs were produced almost every year. Once an initial design was approved, the work was carried out by an entire team of artisans under [[Peter Carl Fabergé]], among them [[Michael Perkhin]], [[Henrik Wigström]] and [[Erik August Kollin]].
The Imperial eggs enjoyed such fame that Fabergé made some 15 known eggs for private clients. Among them is a series of 7 eggs made for the industrialist '''Alexander Kelch'''. In addition, 8 eggs were made. They are not as extravagant as the Imperial eggs, and are not as original, often repeating designs that originated with the Imperial eggs.
==List of Fabergé Imperial Easter eggs==
{{MultiCol}}
*1885 ''[[Hen (Fabergé egg)|Hen]]''
*1886 ''[[Hen with Sapphire Pendant (Fabergé egg)|Hen with Sapphire Pendant]]''†
*1887 ''[[Blue Serpent Clock (Fabergé egg)|Blue Serpent Clock]]''
*1888 ''[[Cherub with Chariot (Fabergé egg)|Cherub with Chariot]]''†
*1889 ''[[Necessaire (Fabergé egg)|Necessaire]]''†
*1890 ''[[Danish Palaces (Fabergé egg)|Danish Palaces]]''
*1891 ''[[Memory of Azov (Fabergé egg)|Memory of Azov]]''
*1892 ''[[Diamond Trellis (Fabergé egg)|Diamond Trellis]]''
*1893 ''[[Caucasus (Fabergé egg)|Caucasus]]''
*1894 ''[[Renaissance (Fabergé egg)|Renaissance]]''
*1895 ''[[Rosebud (Fabergé egg)|Rosebud]]''
*1895 ''[[Twelve Monograms (Fabergé egg)|Twelve Monograms]]''
*1896 ''[[Revolving Miniatures (Fabergé egg)|Revolving Miniatures]]''
*1896 ''[[Alexander III Portraits (Fabergé egg)|Alexander III Portraits]]''†
*1897 ''[[Coronation (Fabergé egg)|Coronation]]''
*1897 ''[[Dowager (or Pelican) (Fabergé egg)|Doweger (or Pelican)]]''
*1898 ''[[Lilies of the Valley (Fabergé egg)|Lilies of the Valley]]''
{{ColBreak}}
*1898 ''[[Mauve (Fabergé egg)|Mauve]]''†
*1899 ''[[Bouquet of Lilies Clock (Fabergé egg)|Bouquet of Lilies Clock]]''
*1899 ''[[Pansy (Fabergé egg)|Pansy]]''
*1900 ''[[Trans-Siberian Railway (Fabergé egg)|Trans-Siberian Railway]]''
*1900 ''[[Cockerel (Fabergé egg)|Cockerel]]''
*1901 ''[[Basket of Wild Flowers (Fabergé egg)|Basket of Wild Flowers]]''
*1901 ''[[Gatchina Palace (Fabergé egg)|Gatchina Palace]]''
*1902 ''[[Clover Leaf (Fabergé egg)|Clover Leaf]]''
*1902 ''[[Empire Nephrite (Fabergé egg)|Empire Nephrite]]''†
*1903 ''[[Peter the Great (Fabergé egg)|Peter the Great]]''
*1903 ''[[Royal Danish (Fabergé egg)|Royal Danish]]''†
*1904 ''No eggs known''
*1905 ''No eggs known''
*1906 ''[[Moscow Kremlin (Fabergé egg)|Moscow Kremlin]]''
*1906 ''[[Swan (Fabergé egg)|Swan]]''
*1907 ''[[Rose Trellis (Fabergé egg)|Rose Trellis]]''
*1907 ''[[Cradle with Garlands (Fabergé egg)|Cradle with Garlands]]''
*1908 ''[[Alexander Palace (Fabergé egg)|Alexander Palace]]''
*1908 ''[[Peacock (Fabergé egg)|Peacock]]''
{{ColBreak}}
*1909 ''[[Standart Yacht (Fabergé egg)|Standart Yacht]]''
*1909 ''[[Alexander III Commemorative (Fabergé egg)|Alexander III Commemorative]]''†
*1910 ''[[Colonnade (Fabergé egg)|Colonnade]]''
*1910 ''[[Alexander III Equestrian (Fabergé egg)|Alexander III Equestrian]]''
*1911 ''[[Fifteenth Anniversary (Fabergé egg)|Fifteenth Anniversary]]''
*1911 ''[[Bay Tree (Fabergé egg)|Bay Tree]]''
*1912 ''[[Czarevich (Fabergé egg)|Czarevich]]''
*1912 ''[[Napoleonic (Fabergé egg)|Napoleonic]]''
*1913 ''[[Romanov Tercentenary (Fabergé egg)|Romanov Tercentenary]]''
*1913 ''[[Winter (Fabergé egg)|Winter]]''
*1914 ''[[Mosaic (Fabergé egg)|Mosaic]]''
*1914 ''[[Grisaille (Fabergé egg)|Grisaille]]''
*1915 ''[[Red Cross with Triptych (Fabergé egg)|Red Cross with Triptych]]''
*1915 ''[[Red Cross with Imperial Portraits (Fabergé egg)|Red Cross with Imperial Portraits]]''
*1916 ''[[Steel Military (Fabergé egg)|Steel Military]]''
*1916 ''[[Order of St. George (Fabergé egg)|Order of St. George]]''
*1917 ''[[Karelian Birch (Fabergé egg)|Karelian Birch]]''
*1917 ''[[Constellation (Fabergé egg)|Constellation]]''
{{EndMultiCol}}
:''<nowiki>†</nowiki> Indicates missing egg
==Other Imperial eggs==
*1885-1889 ''[[Resurrection (Fabergé egg)|Resurrection]]''
*1899-1903 ''[[Spring Flowers (Fabergé egg)|Spring Flowers]]''
==List of Fabergé Kelch eggs==
*1898 ''[[Kelch Hen (Fabergé egg)|Kelch Hen]]''
*1899 ''[[Twelve Panel (Fabergé egg)|Twelve Panel]]''
*1900 ''[[Pine Cone (Fabergé egg)|Pine Cone]]''
*1901 ''[[Apple Blossom (Fabergé egg)|Apple Blossom]]''
*1902 ''[[Rocaille (Fabergé egg)|Rocaille]]''
*1903 ''[[Kelch Bonbonnière (Fabergé egg)|Kelch Bonbonnière]]''
*1904 ''[[Kelch Chanticleer (Fabergé egg)|Kelch Chanticleer]]''
==Other Fabergé eggs==
*1885-1891 ''[[Blue Enamel Ribbed (Fabergé egg)|Blue Enamel Ribbed]]''
*1899-1903 ''[[Scandinavian (Fabergé egg)|Scandinavian]]''
*1902 ''[[Duchess of Marlborough (Fabergé egg)|Duchess of Marlborough]]''
*1902 ''[[Rothschild (Fabergé egg)|Rothschild]]''
*1907 ''[[Youssoupov (Fabergé egg)|Youssoupov]]''
*1914 ''[[Nobel Ice (Fabergé egg)|Nobel Ice]]''
*1917 ''[[Night (Fabergé egg)|Night]]''
*Unknown date ''[[Lapis Lazuli (Fabergé egg)|Lapis Lazuli]]''
== Location of eggs ==
{| align = "right" class = "standard" border = "0" width = "40%"
| '''Location of the Fabergé eggs'''
! | Number
|-----
|'''Imperial:'''
|'''54'''
|-----
| [[Kremlin Armoury|Kremlin Armory Museum]], ([[Moscow]], [[Russia]])
| 10
|-----
| [[Viktor Vekselberg]] collection, ([[Russia]]) (formerly Forbes)
| 11
|-----
| [[Virginia Museum of Fine Arts]], ([[Richmond, Virginia]], [[United States|USA]])
| 5
|-----
| [[New Orleans Museum of Art]], ([[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]])
| 3
|-----
| [[Royal Collection]], ([[London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]])
| 3
|-----
| [[Sandoz|Edouard and Maurice Sandoz Foundation]], ([[Switzerland]])
| 2
|-----
| [[Hillwood Museum]], ([[Washington, D.C]], [[United States|USA]])
| 2
|-----
| [[Walters Art Museum]], ([[Baltimore, Maryland]], [[United States|USA]])
| 2
|-----
| [[Cleveland Museum of Art]], ([[Cleveland, Ohio]], [[USA]])
| 1
|-----
| [[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|Albert II of Monaco]] collection, ([[Monte-Carlo]], [[Monaco]])
| 1
|-----
| [[Russian National Museum]], ([[Moscow]], [[Russia]])
| 1
|-----
| [[Fersman Mineralogical Institute]], ([[Moscow]], [[Russia]])
| 1
|-----
| Private Collection
| 4
|-----
| Location Unknown
| 8
|-----
|'''Kelch:'''
|'''7'''
|-----
| [[Viktor Vekselberg]] collection, ([[Russia]]) (formerly Forbes)
| 2
|-----
| [[Royal Collection]], ([[London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]])
| 1
|-----
| Private Collection
| 4
|-----
|'''Others:'''
|'''8'''
|-----
| [[Viktor Vekselberg]] collection, ([[Russia]]) (formerly Forbes)
| 2
|-----
| [[Cleveland Museum of Art]], ([[Cleveland, Ohio]], [[USA]])
| 1
|-----
| [[Sandoz|Edouard and Maurice Sandoz Foundation]], ([[Switzerland]])
| 1
|-----
| [[Russian National Museum]], ([[Moscow]], [[Russia]])
| 1
|-----
| Private Collection
| 3
|
|}
Of the 69 known Fabergé eggs, only 61 have survived to the present day. The vast majority of them are stored in public museums, with the greatest number, 30, in [[Russia]]. There are 54 known Imperial eggs. Only 46 have survived.
Of the lost eight Imperial eggs, photographs only exist of two,<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/0412/233.html Egg Hunting, Pro Division - Forbes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the 1903 ''[[Royal Danish (Fabergé egg)|Royal Danish]]'', and the 1909 ''[[Alexander III Commemorative (Fabergé egg)|Alexander III Commemorative]]'' eggs.
Only one, 1916's ''[[Order of St. George (Fabergé egg)|Order of St. George]]'' egg, left [[Bolshevik Russia]] with its original recipient, the Dowager Empress [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Maria Feodorovna]].<ref>[http://www.treasuresofimperialrussia.com/e_chap11_srgeorge.html Faberge - Treasures of Imperial Russia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The rest remained in [[St. Petersberg|Petrograd]].
Following the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution]], the [[House of Fabergé]] was nationalized by the [[Bolsheviks]], and the Fabergé family fled to [[Switzerland]], where [[Peter Carl Fabergé]] died in 1920.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/faberge/flevel_1/f7_fate_of_eggs.html Faberge Eggs - the fate of the eggs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[House of Romanov|Romanov]] palaces were ransacked and their treasures moved on order of [[Vladimir Lenin]] to the [[Kremlin Armoury]].<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/faberge/flevel_1/f7_fate_of_eggs.html Faberge Eggs - the fate of the eggs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In a bid to acquire more foreign currency, [[Joseph Stalin]] had many of the eggs sold in 1927, after their value had been appraised by [[Agathon Fabergé]]. Between 1930 and 1933 fourteen Imperial eggs left Russia. Many of the eggs were sold to [[Armand Hammer]], president of [[Occidental Petroleum]] and a personal friend of Lenin, whose father was founder of the [[Communist Party USA|United States Communist party]], and [[Emanuel Snowman]] of the London antique dealers [[Wartski]].
After the collection in the [[Kremlin Armoury]], the largest gathering of Fabergé eggs was assembled by [[Malcolm Forbes]], and displayed in [[New York City]]. Totalling 9 eggs, and approximately 180 other faberge objects, the collection was put up for auction at [[Sotheby's]] in February 2004 by Forbes heirs. Before the auction even began the Forbes collection was purchased in its entirety by the [[oligarch]] [[Victor Vekselberg]] for a sum estimated between $90 and $120 million. The imperial eggs in the collection included the first egg, the Hen Egg and the famed Coronation Egg (featured in the 2004 film [[Ocean's 12]].)
<ref>[http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=681 Energy Tribune<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In November 2007, a Fabergé clock, named by [[Christie's]] [[auction house]] as the 'Rothschild Egg' sold at auction for [[£]]8.9 million (including commission).<ref>The clock was previously documented and had been published in 1964 in L'Objet 1900 by Maurice Rheims, plate 29</ref> The price achieved set two records for auction: it is the most expensive [[timepiece]] ever sold at auction and the most expensive Russian object, including previous Faberge Eggs, ever sold at auction, surpassing the [[United States dollar|$]]9.6 million sale of the 1913 [[Winter (Fabergé egg)|Winter egg]] in 2002.
==See also==
{{commonscat|Fabergé eggs}}
<br>
<gallery>
Image:Equestrian Egg.jpg|'Alexander III Equestrian' Egg
Image:Memory of Azov Egg.jpg|The Memory of Azov Egg
Image:peterthegreategg.JPG|The Peter The Great Egg
Image:Coronation Egg.jpg|The Imperical Coronation Egg
</gallery>
*[[Easter egg]]s
*[[Egg decorating]]
*[[Guilloché]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
<!-- Do not add any external links here without first posting them on the talk page for discussion!-->
*[http://users.vnet.net/schulman/Faberge/eggs.html The Fabergé Eggs: An Illustrated Overview]
*[http://home.hiwaay.net/~christel/index.html Fabergé Research Site by Christel Ludewig McCanless]
*[http://mieks.com/Faberge2/index2.htm Details on all Fabergé Eggs, Tsar Imperial, Imperial and Kelch]
*[http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fab/fab00.html Details on each of the Fabergé Eggs]
*[http://germslav.byu.edu/perspectives/2003/Bailey.html BYU article on the eggs]
*[http://www.fabergeeggs.org The Fabergé Egg History]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7116956.stm Rothschild Fabergé Egg]
[[Category:Fabergé eggs|*]]
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[[Category:Jewellery]]
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