Brenda Forman enlightened the DCGIA Chapter with the history of Fabergé from the period of 1890 to 1918. The story of Fabergé was linked to the lives, loves and tragedy of the last Romanov Tsar Nicholas II and his Empress Alexandra, and to the Russian Revolution which changed the course of world history. Peter Carl Fabergé became jeweler and goldsmith to the Russian Imperial Court.

Fabergé  created exquisite jewels and objects d’art, including the legendary Imperial Easter Eggs, lavishly created for the Russian Imperial family, between 1885 and 1916. Regarded as the greatest and most enduring achievement as well as the most celebrated and awe-inspiring of all Fabergé works of art.Each egg was an exceptional artistic achievement which took a year or more to make. Creation involved a team of highly skilled craftsmen, who worked in the greatest secrecy. Fabergé was given complete freedom in the design and execution, the egg was the glorified case which held the real gift, a surprise within. Fabergé drew on family ties, events in Imperial Court life, or the milestones and achievements of the Romanov dynasty. The theme of the Easter eggs changed each year, but the element of surprise within, remained a constant.

The surprises ranged from a perfect miniature replica of the Coronation carriage, a mechanical swan, an ivory elephant, a heart-shaped frame on an easel with 11 miniature portraits of members of the Imperial family, miniature of the Trans-Siberian Locomotive,  miniature of the Imperial Russian Navy Cruiser Pamiat Azova, as well as many others.

Of the 50 eggs Fabergé made for the Imperial family from 1885 through to 1916, 42 have survived, but often the surprise within has been lost to history.

Fauxbergé – Fake or Real?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

No matter how good it looks, if there’s more than one of it, it’s a fake!

Summary by Charles Marts

Photos by Melanie Marts GG, (GIA)

You can find Bobby Mann’s second book: Ivory Identification – A Photographic Companion at http://www.amazon.com : Search for Ivory Identification Companion.

Ivory Identification: A Photographic Companion