How much does a real Faberge egg cost: types and prices. Faberge

The gift of Maria Fedorovna was described in the state archive entry for 1886 as "A hen made of gold and diamonds, taking out a sapphire egg from a basket." The sapphire egg was freely kept in the hen's beak. The hen and basket, covered with hundreds of rose-cut diamonds, were made of gold. There is no documentary description of the surprise of the egg, and at the moment there is no information about its whereabouts.

It is still a mystery whether the egg was lost or is in one of the private collections.

No. 3. "Golden egg with a clock" (considered lost ) - 1 887

A gift to Maria Feodorovna from Emperor Alexander III. This egg was among the lost ones, and for more than a century it was considered only in a single photo from the 1902 exhibition. It was described as follows: "Easter golden egg with clock, set with diamonds, three sapphires and a pink rose-cut diamond." And in more detail: "Gold watch from Vacheron Constantin, made in a chopped egg-shaped case with diamonds, located on an exquisite tricolor gold rounded stand, decorated with a ring with a wave-like pattern. The stand has double legs, decorated with pink buds and small leaves. On the ring stands are three large cabochon sapphires, from which ribbons adorned with small diamonds diverge to the sides, and garlands of roses and leaves crowning the legs.

In 2011, Anna and Vicente Palmadi discovered that in New York, on March 6 and 7, 1964, this egg was exhibited as lot number 259 at the Parke Bernet gallery. This indicated that the egg exists today and is located in one of private collections. And in 2014, the world spread the news that a dealer from the United States almost sent the imperial "Golden Egg with a Clock" for remelting, having bought it on occasion for 14 thousand dollars. It was later sold to a private collection for £20m.

No. 4. "Cherub and Chariot" (lost) - 1888

Reconstruction

A gift to Maria Feodorovna from Emperor Alexander III. It is among the eggs that have been lost so far.

There is a single fuzzy photograph of an egg with a blurry outline, and there is also a short description stored in the Russian State Historical Archive: “An angel pulling a chariot with an egg - 1,500 rubles, an angel with a clock in a golden egg - 600 rubles.”

The inventory of precious items of imperial property, compiled in 1917, contains the following entry: “A golden egg adorned with diamonds and sapphires; with a silver gilded stand in the form of a two-wheeled cart. Surprise - an angel with a clock.

It is believed that at the 1934 exhibition in New York it was put up for sale and bought by Victor and Armand Hammer. Where it is currently located is unknown.

No. 5. "Necessary"(lost)- 1889

Reconstruction

The egg was designed in the form of a case containing women's toilet items. Since the exact appearance of the product is not known, one can rely only on information from the inventory of the imperial precious property of 1917.

It is possible that the surprise was a set of 13 pieces of a women's manicure set, encrusted with diamonds, although this is not exactly certain.

Since 1922, the fate of the product is unknown. Presumably exhibited and sold at auction in 1952.

No. 6. "Danish Palaces" - 1890

A gift to Maria Feodorovna from Emperor Alexander III. The egg is currently owned by the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation and has been on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art since November 22, 2011.
Outside decorated with pink-lilac enamel, divided by gold stripes into twelve sections. Six vertical lines and three horizontal lines are set with rose-cut diamonds. Emeralds are located at each of the intersections of the lines, and at the top of the egg is a medallion with leaves blooming around a cabochon star sapphire. On the reverse side of the egg there are leaves with ornaments made using chasing.

The egg has an opening mechanism to receive a surprise: a 10-panel screen made of multi-colored gold with watercolors on mother-of-pearl. The panels are cut with rounded gold crowns on top and Greek meanders on the bottom. All watercolors are made by Konstantin Kryzhitsky and dated 1889.
The miniatures depict the imperial yachts Polar Star and Tsarevna, Bernstorf Castle in Copenhagen, the imperial villa in Fredensborg Park next to Fredensborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, Kronborg Castle in the city of Helsingør, the palace-cottage in Peterhof and the Gatchina Palace near St. Petersburg.

In 1930, the Danish Palaces egg, along with 11 others, was chosen for sale outside the USSR, and in the same year it was bought by Victor Hammer for 1,500 rubles. Later it was resold several times, and in 1971 the egg was found in the collection of the deceased Matilda Geddings Gray. Since 1972, "Danish Palaces" have been owned by the foundation named after her and are exhibited in museums.

No. 7. "Memory of Azov" - 1891

A gift to Maria Feodorovna from Alexander III. Currently located in the Armory in Moscow and is one of the few Faberge eggs that did not leave Russia.
Carved from a single piece of heliotrope (a dark green mineral of the quartz group with bright red inclusions), the “Memory of Azov” egg is made in the rococo style inherent in the era of Louis XV. It is covered with an openwork gold ornament, inlaid with diamonds and golden flowers. Wide golden border at the junction of the two halves of the egg

adorned with a ruby ​​and two diamonds. The interior is lined with green velvet.

The surprise of the egg is a miniature model of the cruiser of the Russian Imperial Navy "Memory of Azov", made of red and yellow gold and platinum with small diamonds as glasses.

The model is mounted on an aquamarine plate imitating water. The name of the ship is engraved on the stern. The stand has a gold frame with a loop for easy removal from the egg.

The egg is dedicated to the journey of Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich and Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich on the cruiser "Memory of Azov" in the Far East from October 1890 to August 1891. The journey took place on the advice of the parents in order to expand the horizons of the future tsar and his brother, but had unpleasant consequences. At that time, Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich was ill with tuberculosis, and a long voyage aggravated the disease. An assassination attempt was made on Tsarevich Nicholas in Japan, as a result of which he received serious head injuries from saber blows. Although the egg was presented to the Empress in April, even before this incident, apparently, it had not become one of her favorite jewelry eggs.

No. 8. "Diamond mesh" - 1892

A gift to Maria Feodorovna from Alexander III. The egg is currently in a private collection in London.

The egg shell is carved from translucent apple-green bowenite (not to be confused with bavenite!) - a variety of serpentine. Externally, the material of the product resembles high-quality jade. Processing - cabochon. The egg is woven with a diagonal net of platinum bands set with rose-cut diamonds on gold bases. Above and below, at the junction of the strips, there are two large diamonds. The interior is finished in white satin, there is space for a surprise. The base was a round pale green jadeite slab on which were three cherubs supporting the egg. It was believed that they personify the three sons of the emperor: Nicholas (heir to the throne), George and Michael. At the moment, the basis is lost.
A surprise was also lost - an elephant figurine with a winding key. According to the descriptions, the elephant with a small golden tower is made of ivory, partially covered with enamel, and encrusted with rose-cut diamonds. The sides are decorated with golden patterns in the form of two crosses, each with five white gems (?). The same ones were on the elephant's forehead, and on the tusks, trunk and harness - small diamonds. The elephant deliberately bore a resemblance to the elephant depicted on the royal coat of arms of Denmark, as a memory from the childhood of Maria Feodorovna.

In the 1920s, the egg was sold through the Antiques office to Michel Norman of the Australian Pearl Company. It has since been resold several times.

No. 9. "Caucasus" - 1893

A gift to Maria Feodorovna from Alexander III.
The egg is now owned by the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation and has been on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York since November 2011.

The late Louis XV style souvenir egg has four oval "windows", each of which is closed by an oval door with a pearl border. On the outside, in the center of each of the doors, there is a diamond wreath with a number inside. Together they make up the number 1893. On the sides of each window and door are gold wands with diamond stripes and pearls at the ends. Behind each opening door are miniatures on ivory depicting views of the Abastuman Palace in the Caucasus, in which Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich spent most of his life. The miniatures were painted by the court miniaturist Konstantin Krizhitsky.

On the top of the egg, under a large "portrait" diamond, there is a miniature portrait of Grand Duke George Alexandrovich. The portrait diamond is surrounded by rose-cut diamonds and a laurel wreath. At the base of the egg is a smaller portrait diamond. In the upper and lower quarters of the egg there is a pink colored gold garland tied with platinum bows studded with diamonds. The egg is placed on a stand with twisted golden legs imitating bent wood.

The surprise egg was lost, and there is no documentary evidence of it.
In 1930 it was sold by Antiques to Armand Hammer of the New York Hammer Gallery, then until 1972 it was in the collection of Matilda Geddings Gray.

No. 10. "Renaissance" - 1894

The last Faberge Easter egg, presented to Alexandra Feodorovna by Emperor Alexander III (he died in October 1894). The current owner is Viktor Vekselberg's Link of Times Foundation.
An egg-shaped casket made of transparent bluish milky agate lies horizontally on an oval gold base.

The upper part of the egg, which opens on a gold hinge, is decorated with an overlaid trellis made of white enamel with diamond and ruby ​​colors at the intersections. The date “1894” is inlaid with diamonds in an oval of strawberry-red transparent enamel framed with stylized shells of green enamel and figures of red and white enamel.

The lower border of the lid is decorated with shells of transparent strawberry-red enamel between the volutes of white enamel with diamonds.
The edges of the shells of the inner side of the egg, visible when the lid is open, are trimmed with a vegetative border on a white enamel background. The lower leaf is bordered on top with a strip of strawberry-red enamel and covered below with belts of leaves with a berry and blue shells of “buckles”. On both sides of the casket there are handles in the form of golden sculptured lion heads with rings in their teeth. The embossed base is trimmed with translucent green enamel leaves alternating with red enamel flowers.
The surprise was lost, but there is an assumption that it was a pearl jewelry. According to another version, expressed by Christopher Forbes, it is believed that the surprise was the egg of the Resurrection of Christ, which is ideal in size to the Renaissance egg and has a similar design and color scheme. In addition, they were demonstrated together in 1902.

Around 1927, through the Antikvariat office, the egg was sold to Armand Hammer in a New York gallery for 1,500 rubles, then it was resold several times.

No. 11. "Watch with a blue snake" - 1895

The first of the Faberge Easter eggs presented by Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. It is currently owned by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The egg sits on a golden stand decorated with opal white enamel patterns. Three panels of the stand are covered with gold in four colors, symbolizing the arts and sciences.

Golden snake inlaid
diamonds, wraps around the stand, connecting it with the egg, and rises to its middle.
The snake's head and tongue indicate the current hour, displayed in Roman numerals on a rotating white panel. Most of the egg is covered with translucent blue enamel and gold bands with diamonds, and there are elements of a hour bell in its lower and upper parts. On each side of the egg are gold handles in the shape of sculpted "C" arches, attached near the top and in the middle of the egg. One of the interesting features is that the "Egg Clock with a Blue Snake" does not contain sapphires, and in the Russian historical archives on the inventory of the confiscated imperial property for 1917 and in the documents of the transfer of the collection from the Anichkov Palace in 1922 to the Council of People's Commissars, it is indicated that all items contain sapphires.
The egg does not contain a surprise, because. is business hours. Sold to Michel Norman of the Australian Pearl Company in 1927. Having changed several owners, in 1974 it was presented to Prince Rainier III of Monaco on the 25th anniversary of being on the throne. The prince gave the egg to his wife, Princess Grace.

It became one of the princess's favorite pieces of jewelry and was kept on a table in one of her rooms. After Grace's death, all rooms were sealed and the egg was not displayed in public. Then, after the death of Rainier III in 2005, the egg was inherited by the new Prince of Monaco, Albert II. Since 2008, the egg has been shown to the general public at exhibitions.

No. 12. "Rosebud" - 1895

Created by Mikhail Perkhin under the direction of Carl Faberge for Nicholas II. It became the first egg presented by Nikolai Alexandra Feodorovna.
The Easter egg is made in neoclassical style. It opens like a bonbonniere, revealing a yellow-enamelled rosebud hidden inside. The petals of the bud part to reveal a golden crown set with diamonds and rubies and a pendant with a star cabochon ruby. Both of these last surprises are lost.
The crown emphasized the new title of Alexandra Feodorovna as Empress of the Russian Empire. Her native Darmstadt was famous for its rose garden, yellow roses were especially valued. The surprise became a pleasant memory of the homeland.

In 1927, the egg was sold to Emmanuel Snowman of the Wartski jewelry house. It changed owners several times, and since 2004 it has been owned by the Viktor Vekselberg Foundation.

No. 13. "Portraits of Alexander III (Twelve Monograms)" - 1896

Created by order of Emperor Nicholas II and presented to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, for Easter in memory of his father, Alexander III. It was the first of four imperial eggs made in memory of Alexander III. Currently owned by the Hillwood Museum.
This jewelry egg is considered one of the most beautiful creations of the Faberge firm. It consists of 6 panels covered with dark blue guilloché enamel. They are cut by relief hoops, encrusted with rose-cut diamonds. At the intersections of the hoops, larger diamonds are set, located on gold platforms.

On each panel are the monograms MF (Maria Fedorovna) and AIII (Alexander III), lined with diamonds, above which is the imperial crown of diamonds. The monograms MF are located in the upper half, and AIII in the lower half. Large diamonds rise above the upper and lower parts, set on round gold platforms. When the egg is opened, the interior velvet finish is visible. The surprise was the miniature portraits of Alexander III on a gold stand, but they were lost during the expropriation.

In the 1920s, Egg No. 13 was sold to a Parisian jeweler and later passed on to antiques collector Marjorie Merryweather Post, who bequeathed her collection to the Hillwood Museum established on her estate.

No. 14. "Rotating miniatures" - 1896

This egg was created by order of Nicholas II for Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. It is currently in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
The outer shell of rock crystal is bounded by a thin gold strip covered with emerald green enamel encrusted with diamonds. The egg is crowned with a 27-carat Siberian emerald, set on a gold substrate covered with emerald green enamel. This cabochon emerald is one of the largest gemstones used by Faberge in the series of imperial eggs.
The leg of the egg rests on a rock crystal pedestal and consists of a colorfully painted, enameled gold double spheroid surrounded by two circles of rose-cut diamonds. It is also decorated with the monograms of the Empress - Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt before her marriage and later of Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia.

Each monogram is surmounted by the diamond crown of the respective royal house. These monograms form a continuous pattern around the base of the jewelry egg.
Inside the rock crystal egg is a golden axis supporting twelve miniature drawings. They depict palaces and residences that were significant for the young empress. Each of these places is memorable for Nicholas and Alexandra, as the first moments of their acquaintance before the marriage, which took place in 1894.
At the moment of releasing the cabochon emerald located on top of the egg, a mechanism is set in motion that rotates the miniatures attached to the central golden axis. A hook descends down, which turns them over like the pages of a book, thanks to which you can watch two miniatures at the same time. Each of them has a gold frame topped with an emerald.

In 1930, the egg was sold through Antiques to the Victor Hammer Gallery. Since 1945, it has been in the possession of Lillian Thomas Pratt, wife of General Motors President John Pratt. After her death in 1947, the egg was bequeathed to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, where it remains on display to this day.

No. 15. "Pink-purple egg with 3 miniatures" (lost) -1897

Created by order of Emperor Nicholas II for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. The egg is among the missing Faberge jewelry eggs and its whereabouts are currently unknown. However, in the collection of Viktor Vekselbeg there is his surprise - a frame with 3 miniatures in the form of a heart.
The exact design of the egg is unknown. In the invoice issued to Faberge, it is described as
"pink-purple enamel egg with 3 miniatures".
The surprise frame is made in the neoclassical style popular at the time. It has the shape of a heart, bordered with diamonds, covered with strawberry red enamel on a guilloché background, with the date "1897" set in diamonds. The frame rests on a Louis XVI style hexagonal leg, covered with white enamel and painted in the shape of a spiraling vine.
The leg is set on a domed ledge base, covered with strawberry-red enamel and decorated with golden wreaths of laurel leaves, diamonds, engraved with golden acanthus leaves, painted with laurel branches, as well as four large pearls.
When the foot is pressed, the heart opens, turning into a clover shamrock, covered with emerald green enamel on a guilloché background, with a pattern in the form of diverging sun rays. In each petal there is a miniature portrait in a diamond frame: in one - Emperor Nicholas II, in the second - his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, in the third - Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna in infancy. The clover petals are closed by pressing one of the pearls fixed on the base.

In the inventories of the confiscated imperial property of 1917 and 1922, the egg is not listed. Presumably, it was taken by Maria Fedorovna before 1917. In 1978, a surprise egg was auctioned off by Christie's to the Forbes magazine collection. In 2004, together with other jewelry owned by the Forbes family, it was bought by Viktor Vekselberg's Link of Times Foundation.

No. 16. "Coronation" - 1897

The surprise is a tiny copy of the golden carriage of Catherine the Great of 1793, used by the Romanov family to transport the royal family during the coronation week. Georg Stein, the master of the Faberge firm, wrote in his memoirs that he worked on the creation of this miracle of jewelry art for more than 15 months, 16 hours a day.
Exceptionally accurately recreated not only the appearance of the carriage, but also all its equipment. The carriage is equipped with springs, has a turntable, on both sides there are opening small doors, a tiny step is thrown out of the bowels of the carriage. Inside there are armchairs, a canopy and a ring fixed under the ceiling, on which a large diamond in the form of an Easter egg was once hung. Most likely, the Empress took it off and attached it to her Easter necklace.

In 1927 Emmanuel Snowman bought the egg through Antiques for the Wartski Gallery in London. The egg changed owners several times, now it is owned by the Viktor Vekselberg Foundation.

No. 17. "Pelican" - 1898

This egg is one of the few that does not have an enamel coating of its entire surface. It is covered with engraved red gold in the Empire style and topped with a pelican in matte gray, blue and pink enamel. The pelican, a symbol of self-sacrifice and mercy, has wings encrusted with diamonds. He feeds his children in a golden nest, which symbolizes maternal care and love. The egg is engraved with classical motifs, memorable dates from 1797 to 1897 and the inscription on both sides: "Visit this grape and you will live."
The egg is placed on a round golden stand consisting of two rings decorated with ornaments and having four legs topped with eagle heads with imperial crowns and resting on animal paws. Also, it has a red velvet case, which is found only once among the entire series of imperial eggs.

The Pelican Egg is a commemorative sign of the 100-year (1797-1897) patronage of charitable institutions by Russian empresses. Establishments founded mainly for the education of the daughters of the nobility are depicted on eight oval panels with pearl frames. They can be seen after the transformation of the egg into 8 parts, forming a screen. The miniatures were painted by court painter Johannes Zengraf on ivory. The depicted institutions are listed on the reverse side of the miniatures. The "ninth panel" serves solely as a stand for an open egg.

In 1930, Egg No. 17 was sold by Antiques to Armand Hammer of New York. Between 1936 and 1938, it was purchased by Lillian Thomas Pratt, wife of General Motors President John Pratt. After her death in 1947, the egg was bequeathed to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, where it remains on display to this day.

Let's admire this work of art on video.

No. 18. "Lilies of the valley" - 1898

Another Easter egg for Alexandra Feodorovna commissioned by Nicholas II. It became one of the Empress' favorites.
The egg is made of translucent pink enamel with a guilloché surface, and is set on a golden stand with four legs. Lilies of the valley made of green enamel, gold and pearls are fixed on it.

A surprise appears when you press the side pearls: three medallions come out from the top. On the upper medallion, topped with a crown with diamonds and a ruby-cabochon, Nicholas II is depicted in military uniform, on the left - Grand Duchess Olga, on the right - Tatyana. Materials used: gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies, pearls, rock crystal, ivory. Height 20 cm when open.

In 1927, the egg was sold to E. Snowman, after that it changed owners several times, and in 2004 it was purchased by Viktor Vekselberg at Sotheby's in New York.

No. 19. "Pansies" - 1899



A gift from Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Previously, the product was known as the "Spinach Jade Egg". The egg is carved from a single piece of jade and is held by a support in the form of gilded silver leaves with diamond veins, twisted into a bundle. Above the leaves rise five stems with flowers and pansy buds made of gold, colored enamel and diamonds.

The top of the egg opens to reveal a surprise hidden underneath - a heart-shaped folding easel with eleven medallions. The oval lids of the medallions are made of strawberry guilloche enamel and decorated with personal monograms of members of the imperial family. The medallions are interconnected by a diamond vignette forming the letter M. The easel is crowned with a wreath with a six-pointed Star of Bethlehem, in the center of which a large diamond shines, from below the date - 1899.

Surprise materials: gold, diamonds, pearls, strawberry, white and mother-of-pearl enamel. Height - 14.6 cm.

When the button is pressed, the medallions open, showing portraits of all members of the royal family. Portraits of the first row vertically: Tsarevich Georgy Alexandrovich, the Tsar's younger brother, and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, husband of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, the Tsar's sister. Second vertical row: Tsar Nicholas II, Princess Irina, daughter of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. Third row vertically: daughters of Nicholas II Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatyana, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, younger brother of the Tsar. Fourth vertical row: Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna and Prince Andrei Alexandrovich, brother of Princess Irina. Fifth vertical row: Grand Duchess Olga and Xenia Alexandrovna, sisters of the Tsar.

In 1930, the office "Antiques" sold the egg at an auction in New York, since then it has been in private collections. Current location is New Orleans.

No. 20. "Bouquet of lilies" - 1899

The egg-clock (the common name is "Lilies of the Madonna") was created by order of Nicholas II as a gift for Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Materials: multi-colored gold, platinum, diamonds, onyx, white and yellow translucent enamel, opaque white enamel. Height 27 cm.

The egg looks like an old French clock from the time of Louis XVI. The egg-shaped clock and the rectangular base are decorated with transparent yellow enamel on a guilloché background and an applied pattern of colored gold. The clock is crowned with a bouquet of snow-white lilies (Madonna lilies) in a rosette. The lilies are carved from onyx, the pistils end with three small diamonds, the leaves and stems are tinted gold. The rotating dial with 12 diamond-set Roman numerals is covered with white enamel. The clock hand is made in the shape of Cupid's arrow shot from a bow. The date on the pedestal is 1899 in diamonds. The clockwork was wound with a golden key.

In the language of flowers, lilies symbolize purity and innocence, roses symbolize love. Cupid's torches (near the hour hand), whose flame is depicted as a floral ornament around the circumference of the clock, symbolize family love.

The surprise has been lost, in early photographs it is depicted as a ruby ​​pendant with diamonds.

At the moment, the egg is in the Armory in Moscow and is one of the few imperial Easter eggs that did not leave Russia.

How Faberge eggs are arranged - a look from the inside

Faberge Easter eggs - 5 videos

Luxury, brilliance and splendor are the words that can accompany a conversation about Faberge eggs. An amazing collection created by eminent jewelers for the imperial court is now known all over the world. The history of Faberge eggs, numbering more than 100 years, is shrouded in mystery, and contains many facts, secrets and mysteries.

Who is Faberge?

He was born in 1846 in St. Petersburg. At a young age, he moved with his family to Germany, where he found his calling. He received jewelry lessons from the most famous masters of Germany, England and France. At the age of 26, Faberge returned to his homeland, where he got married and started working in a family jewelry company. At that time, his company was engaged in the restoration of various exhibits from the Hermitage. Karl decided to expand the activities of his company and decided to make original jewelry. In 1882, he made custom-made cufflinks, and three years later, the first egg, which made him famous all over the world. In 1918, fearing arrest, the master fled Russia, first to Riga and then to Germany. The great jeweler could not recover from the shocks that he had to endure, and in 1920 he died of heart disease.

How did the famous collection come about?

The collection of Faberge eggs began with the creation of the first model in 1885. In those days, it was customary to present expensive gifts on the day of the resurrection of Christ. And, of course, the rulers of the Russian Empire gave royal gifts to their spouses. The first work was ordered by Alexander III as a gift for Easter to his wife Maria Feodorovna. The executor of the work was Carl Faberge, a well-known St. Petersburg jeweler of German origin at that time. A charming egg with a yolk made of gold, inside of which a chicken with a ruby ​​crown was hidden, fell in love with the Empress, and Faberge was left at court as a court jeweler. Since then, every year the master has made a new egg with a surprise. After the death of Alexander III, the tradition of Easter gifts was preserved, and until 1917, Nicholas II gave Faberge eggs to his wife and mother every spring. To this day, many such products have been preserved in the treasuries of various private collections and museum funds. According to various documentary sources, a total of 71 copies of these original relics were made. Of these, 52 are for members of the imperial family. However, how many of them actually remain a mystery. The fact is that the works made by order of the emperor were included in official documents. Products made for private collections were kept unrecorded. Therefore, many of the author's works remained unknown for a long time. A similar story is connected with the “Rothschild egg”, which has been stored for more than 100 years among the family property of customers. The whole world learned about the new work of the famous master only in 2007, when it was put up for sale.

Where are the rarities today?

Of the 71 models, only 62 have survived to this day. The rest of the works, known from old photographs, are considered lost. Most of the famous eggs are kept in state museums around the world: USA, Monaco, Switzerland. After the execution of the royal family, many of Faberge's works were resold and ended up in private collections. During the years of his life, the American billionaire Forbes managed to buy the largest number of jewelry works. Later, in 2004, the collection of eggs collected by the magnate was acquired by the Russian Vekselberg. Today, Faberge eggs in Russia can be seen in Moscow, in the Kremlin Armory. Here you can find not only the emperor's Easter gifts, but also other products created by Faberge: jewelry, watches, cigarette cases and various miniature figurines. Also, the Shuvalov Palace awaits you with an exhibition of works by a famous master in St. Petersburg. The Faberge eggs presented here are part of the private collection of Mr. Vekselberg. The series of famous eggs bought from Forbes is replenished annually by the oligarch.

The most famous products

The works of the famous master are kept in museums of various countries, as well as in private individuals. Collectors around the world follow the auctions of the popular jeweler, and treasure hunters dream of finding the lost imperial jewels. Let's see which works of Faberge are considered the most famous today.

"Hen"

An egg made of gold with an original surprise - a chicken and a ruby ​​crown - was ordered by Alexander III as a gift for Easter 1885 to the queen. Faberge created a copy of the model that Maria Feodorovna herself saw while still at an early age. The Danish egg was made from ivory and had a ring inside as a surprise. In memory of these childhood memories, a new work was done. The unique Faberge chicken figurine has a complex mechanism that opens access to the surprises hidden inside the product. The first is a miniature imperial crown, and the second is a chain with a pendant. To date, the second surprise is considered lost. After the death of the imperial family, the egg wandered around France, Germany, and America. Today, the work of the famous master is in the Vekselberg collection, which he bought from Forbes. Thus, a unique rarity returned to its homeland.

"Rosebud Egg"

Another work of the eminent master. It was made in an unusual style for that time - neoclassicism. Hidden inside the egg The work was made by Faberge by order of Nicholas II for his wife, Alexandra Feodorovna, a native of the city of Darmstadt. Her hometown was famous for its wonderful rose garden, which the young empress missed. In good memory of the images close to the heart, an original Easter gift was conceived. Hidden in the petals of the bud was a miniature crown and a ruby ​​pendant. Both surprises are considered lost. The egg, along with the rest of the Forbes collection, was purchased by Vekselberg for almost $100 million.

"Lilies of the Valley"

An Art Nouveau egg made of pink enamel, on a gold stand, with lilies of the valley made of pearls and gold, was presented to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in 1898 as an Easter present. Like all the works of the popular master, it has its own original surprise. When you click on the pearls from the egg, medallions appear with the image of Nicholas II and his sisters: Princess Olga and Princess Tatiana. The emperor's medallion is crowned with a ruby ​​and diamonds. The egg, which ended up in the Forbes collection, was also bought by Viktor Vekselberg. Today, "lilies of the valley" and other Faberge eggs, the exhibition of which is organized by the oligarch, can be viewed by anyone in St. Petersburg.

"Moscow Kremlin"

The largest of the Faberge eggs. Made by order of Nicholas II as a gift to his wife in 1906. The Easter figure is covered with white enamel on the bottom and decorated with a golden dome on top. The stand is made in the form of the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin, and through the windows you can see the interior of the cathedral. The surprise egg is made of gold, which plays Easter melodies. The emperor himself liked this music very much. The Moscow Kremlin is one of several works by the great master who never left Russia. Today the masterpiece can be seen in the Kremlin Armory.

"Alexander Palace"

Decorated with gold, precious stones, as well as miniature portraits of the children of Nicholas II, it was presented to the emperor's wife in 1908. Above each portrait, the capital letters of the names of the crown princes are laid out in diamonds. Surprise gift - a miniature model of the Alexander Palace, the country residence of Nicholas II. The palace, made of gold, silver and mounted on a gold table. Today, the work is stored in the Kremlin Armory.

How much does a Faberge egg cost?

The works of the famous master are constantly becoming more expensive. Over the more than 100-year history of jewelry masterpieces, their price has "jumped" by an average of 1000 - 3000 times. For example, it is known from documentary sources that the “Rothschild egg” in 1902 was estimated at 6,500 rubles. After 106 years, in 2008, it was bought for $12 million. The most expensive to date is the Coronation Egg. Made of gold and diamonds, with a surprise in the form of a miniature imperial carriage, it was made for the wife of Nicholas II in 1896. Then its cost was 6700 rubles. In 2004, the egg was sold to Vekselberg for $24 million. The Russian oligarch bought other Faberge eggs from the Forbes family, the total price of which was $100 million.

How much do copies of Faberge eggs cost?

There are many handicrafts of the famous company. Some of them are made by talented craftsmen. However, only the nominal Faberge brand increases the market value of the product. In 1990, an exhibition of fake jewelry works by the author was even organized in New York. One such copy, the Kelch Hen egg, was also purchased by Malcolm Forbes. Only many years later, researchers were able to prove the true authorship of the work. Today, copies of the works of the famous master can be purchased in many online stores. Visually, such models exactly repeat the works of Faberge. Eggs, photos of which are presented here, in this case can be purchased much cheaper. The cost of copies of "Chickens", "Lilies of the valley" or "Moscow Kremlin", depending on the material and complexity of the work, ranges from 1000 to 10,000 rubles. An interesting fact is that in 2008 it was decided to restore the Faberge company and start producing new collections of the famous eggs. At the moment, new products under the famous brand are produced by the talented French master Frederic Zaavi. Today, Faberge eggs are examples of high art and are valued by collectors around the world.

Faberge eggs have long been associated with the imperial house of Russia. These unique pieces of jewelry were made especially for the Russian monarchs and miraculously survived the October Revolution.

Almost all the works of art by Carl Faberge have survived to this day, and there are a total of 71 copies. Of this number, 54 jewelry eggs were made specifically for several generations of the royal family. Each of these unique creations was made in a single version, and had its own secret.

What other secrets does this amazing collection hold? This article contains the most fascinating facts about jewelry, which the whole world called Faberge eggs!

Carl Faberge

The world-famous jeweler was born in St. Petersburg in 1846. His father was also engaged in jewelry business, it is not surprising that Karl took over the passion for this business from his family and at the age of 24 he became the head of a jewelry company. In 1882, he took part in the All-Russian exhibition, where Emperor Alexander III liked his works.

Carl Faberge, Emperor Alexander III and his wife Maria Feodorovna

Since then, the monarch has approached him several times with orders. A few years later, the emperor had an idea that only Carl Faberge could realize. He wanted to give something unusual for the Ascension of Jesus to his beloved wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Imperial Faberge Eggs

The first egg, ordered and designed by Emperor Alexander III, was made by a jeweler in 1885. Karl was not the creator of the concept of this souvenir, the emperor asked him to interpret the egg, which was created at the beginning of the 18th century. In total, three such copies were made, one of which was kept in Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen. Since Maria Feodorovna was born in Denmark, the emperor wanted to give her something that would remind her of her childhood and the treasures of her native country.

All three eggs were made with a secret, and contained inside a miniature figure of a chicken, in which a ring was hidden. According to the same principle, Carl Faberge made his first jewelry egg, which was called "Hen" - from white enamel and matte gold. As in a nesting doll, it had a small bird in which jewels were placed - a mini version of the imperial crown and a gold chain with a ruby ​​pendant.

Maria Feodorovna really liked the creation of Faberge, and she immediately elevated him to the rank of a jeweler at court. Now, for each day of ascension, he had to make an egg, in which there must be a surprise. After the death of Emperor Alexander III, the tradition of giving eggs was continued by Emperor Nicholas II, who ordered gifts for his mother and his wife. Soon, a whole team of jewelers from all over the world was engaged in the development and creation of eggs. Most of the craftsmen were from Finland, they all had their own workshops, but considered it an honor to participate in the creation of an order for monarchs.

In total, he made 54 eggs for the imperial house, but today you can see only 48 with your own eyes. After the revolution and the overthrow of the imperial family, the path of these decorations was long and thorny. There are also other collectible eggs that Faberge made for private individuals. It is difficult to say the exact number of these decorations, because Charles only documented the orders of the imperial family. According to reports, a total of 71 specimens are known.

Other Faberge eggs

Carl Faberge skillfully created his masterpieces and each time came up with new designs. Its eggs contained tiny ships, a replica of the emperor's carriage, mini-portraits made on easels, an elephant, and even a mechanical peacock that could walk and lift its tail.

The emperor's collection attracted the attention of many, and some private individuals wanted the same specimens for themselves. The largest collection, in addition to the royal one, was commissioned by magnate Alexander Kelkh for his dearest wife. It consists of seven pieces and is also very popular, although the models are not as skillfully made as the imperial ones. Eight eggs are also known to have been designed by individual orders, including for the Duchess of Marlborough, Felix Yusupov, the Rothschild family and others.

Faberge eggs now

After the revolution, eggs from different collections were scattered all over the world, because at first the Bolsheviks considered them of little value and placed them together with other jewelry in the Kremlin. In 1930, some of the eggs were sold, many for a ridiculous amount of about $400. At the moment, the largest imperial collections are in the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg (11 pieces), in the Moscow Armory (10 pieces), in the Richmond Museum (5 pieces).

There are jeweler's eggs in her possession - she keeps three masterpieces from the imperial collection and one belonging to Kelch. Among private collectors, tycoon Forbes managed to find the largest number of eggs, he boasted 15 copies. His heirs wanted to put the collection up for auction, but the Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg offered a decent amount and bought all the copies. Now they are in the Faberge Museum, which he founded. According to a rough estimate, the cost of the Forbes collection cost him 100 million rubles.

The rest of the eggs are scattered around the world in private collections and museums. Among them there are both well-known exhibits and little-known works by Faberge. Until now, it is very popular and famous all over the world.

Making elaborately decorated Easter eggs was both a tradition and an ancient craft in Russia. Long before Faberge began creating jewelry eggs for the imperial family, eggs made from precious metals and stones were made for Russian tsars. But only Carl Faberge and his talented team of artists, jewelers, stone cutters, model sculptors and miniaturists managed to bring the art of making jewelry Easter eggs to an unprecedented and unsurpassed level of elegance, craftsmanship and creative imagination.

Carl Faberge and his firm's jewelers created the first egg in 1885. It was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III as an Easter surprise for his wife Maria Feodorovna. The so-called “Chicken” egg was smooth and enameled on the outside, but when it was opened, a chicken made of gold turned out to be inside. Inside the chicken, in turn, was hidden a small ruby ​​​​crown (cf. the tradition of folding matryoshkas).

Faberge Egg "Hen" 1885
The most simple and classic egg: white, inside the yolk, then the hen, and inside it is a ruby ​​crown (not preserved)
. Vekselberg collection

The empress was so fascinated by the gift that Faberge, who turned into a court jeweler, received an order to make an egg every year; it had to be unique and contain some kind of surprise, that was the only condition. The next emperor, Nicholas II, continued this tradition, each spring giving, in turn, two eggs - one to Maria Feodorovna, his widowed mother, and the second to Alexandra Feodorovna, the new empress.

The next egg made by the Faberge firm was the Hen with Sapphire Pandan egg, there is no information about it and no image. The first owner is Maria Fedorovna, born in 1886. Location: Cleveland Museum of Art, Minshell Early Indian Collection.

Faberge egg "Clock with a blue snake" 1887
Egg clock, made in the tradition of Sevres porcelain. The stationary snake serves as an arrow.
Prince Albert Collection.

In total, from 1885 to 1917, by order of the emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II, about 56 Easter masterpieces were created (the exact number is unknown). Eggs made in the workshop of Mikhail Perkhin, which after his death was headed by Heinrich Wigström, were distinguished by unprecedented luxury, amazing imagination, unsurpassed perfection in detail, and a virtuoso combination of a variety of techniques. Never repeating themselves, they were especially impressive with the surprises contained in them - miniature copies of royal yachts and cruisers with the finest gear, palaces with flowerbeds of “fluffy” gold broken in front of them, monuments strewn with stones, flowers or buds.

Faberge Egg "Cherub and Chariot" 1888
Malachite egg with carriage, deer and three cherubs inside. The stand is foldable and has two options.
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna. Location unknown (since 1930s), probably USA.

Faberge Egg "Nesser"1889
Contains a 13-piece manicure set. Last known price $3,000,000
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna. Location unknown (missing)

Faberge Egg "Danish Palaces" 1890
Inside: 12 miniature paintings on mother-of-pearl - views of palaces in Denmark and Russia.

Each egg took almost a year to make. As soon as the sketch was approved, a whole team of the firm's jewelers took over the work, some of whose names have been preserved (so it should not be said that the author of all of them is Carl Faberge). The contribution of master Mikhail Perkhin is especially great. Also mentioned are August Holstrom, Henrik Wigstrom, Eric Collin.

Faberge egg with a model of the cruiser "Memory of Azov", 1891
Materials: Gold, platinum, silver, diamonds, rose-cut diamonds, ruby, aquamarine, heliotrope, velvet. egg length - 35/8 inches (9.3 cm); model length - 7.0 cm; model height - 4.0 cm. Technique: casting, chasing, engraving, stone carving. Inside: a model of the frigate "Memory of Azov", on which the sons of Mary were sailing at that moment. Jewelers - Mikhail Perkhin and Yuri Nikolai. Made of jade, in the Rococo style.
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna. Stored in the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, Inv.No. MP-645/1-2.

A series of imperial eggs enjoyed such fame that the Faberge company made several items for private customers (15 are known). Among them stands apart a series of 7 eggs presented by the gold miner Alexander Ferdinandovich Kelkh to his wife. In addition, there are 8 more Faberge eggs made to order (for Felix Yusupov, nephew of Alfred Nobel, the Rothschilds, the Duchess of Marlborough and unidentified persons). They are not as luxurious as the imperial ones, and are not original, often repeating the type invented for royal gifts.

Faberge Egg "Diamond Lattice" 1892
A stand in the form of cherubs holding an egg has been lost. Jade.
The lost surprise is an elephant (Danish armorial animal).
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna. Private collection, London

It is possible that some other items were made for private individuals, but they were never documented (unlike royal eggs), which leaves some freedom for skilled forgers. An example of an unexpected discovery is the “Rothschild egg” put up for sale in the fall of 2007, which was ordered by the representatives of the clan in the Faberge firm and was kept among the family property, without being advertised, for a whole century.

Faberge Egg "Caucasus" 1893
Inside: miniatures with views of the Caucasus with the places where the son of the Empress Grand Duke lived. George.
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna. New Orleans Art Museum.

Of the 71 known eggs, only 62 have survived to this day. The vast majority of them are kept in state museums. 54 imperial eggs are known: 46 pieces made by the royal order have survived to this day; the rest are known from descriptions, accounts, and old photographs and are thought to be lost.

Faberge Egg "Renaissance" 1894
Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin. Agate. The type of casket Le Roy of the 17th century, which was kept in the "Green Vaults" in Dresden, in the homeland of Faberge, was used. The surprise is unknown, there is an assumption that it was a crystal egg "Resurrection"
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna. Vekselberg collection.

Faberge and Russia are forever inextricably linked. And not only because the German-born jeweler Carl Gustav Faberge, modest and Huguenot, lived his most fruitful years in St. Petersburg. And not even because the Russian emperors (and, therefore, the entire brilliant court of the Russian Empire) loved his creations - from cufflinks to necklaces - and bought them in kilograms. But because some of the creations of Faberge's hands have become the same symbols of Russia as caviar, the Mir space station and Tolstoy's immortal War and Peace. Of course, we are talking about imperial Easter eggs.

Faberge egg "12 monograms"
Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin. The egg was ordered by the new emperor for his mother, who had been accustomed to such gifts for a decade. The product is decorated with the initials of Maria Feodorovna and the deceased Alexander III, which are repeated 6 times. The surprise is gone.
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Hillwood Museum, Washington, USA 1896 By Faberge.

The custom of giving eggs on the Easter holiday arose a long time ago. According to legend, the first Easter egg was presented to the Roman emperor Tiberius by Mary Magdalene, who came with the news of the Resurrection of Christ. And in those days it was customary, when coming to the emperor, to bring him gifts. Wealthy people brought jewelry, and the poor - what they could. Therefore, Mary Magdalene, who had nothing but faith in Jesus, handed the emperor Tiberius a chicken egg with the words: "Christ is Risen!" The emperor pointedly remarked that the resurrection of a person from the dead is the same irrational miracle as, for example, the fact that a white egg can turn red. Tiberius did not have time to finish these words, as an ordinary chicken egg turned blood red. In memory of this amazing event, believers give each other eggs for Easter. Who are poorer - just painted, who are richer - intricately decorated. Those who are simply indecently rich, along with the traditional words "Christ is Risen!" give Faberge eggs.

Faberge Egg "Rosebud"
The first egg presented to Alexandra Feodorovna. Surprise - a rose (in memory of Darmstadt, the birthplace of the Empress, who was proud of her flowers). Inside the flower is a crown, inside which is a pendant (lost).

Neoclassicism style. Vekselberg Collection 1895 Author Faberge

The next egg was "Portraits of Alexander III" There is no information about it. Mentioned on the company invoice. Probably contained 6 portrait miniatures.
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna, born in 1896.

Faberge Egg "Rotating Miniatures"
Egg made of rock crystal with 12 miniatures - views of memorable places for the Empress
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Virginia Art Museum, Richmond, USA 1896 By Faberge

Faberge Egg "Pink-Purple Egg with 3 Miniatures"
Lost. Presumably, the surprise inside is a heart with three portrait medallions, which has survived and is now in the Vekselberg collection.
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Location unknown 1897 Author Faberge

Faberge Egg "Coronation"
A copy of the Imperial carriage at the coronation of Nicholas II. Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin, Georg Stein. The most famous of the eggs.
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Armory 1897 Author Faberge

In 2004, Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg purchased a collection of works by Carl Faberge from the Forbes family. 9 imperial Easter eggs and 190 other pieces of jewelry cost the businessman more than $100 million. However, Vekselberg insisted that the lot be removed from the auction, so it is not known exactly how much each egg cost.

Faberge Egg "Widow (Pelican)"
The egg unfolds into 8 miniature plates with institutions founded by the Widowed Empress Maria Feodorovna. The pelican is a symbol of charity.
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Virginia Art Museum, Richmond, USA 1897 By Faberge

Thus, of the currently known Easter eggs - 10 are in Moscow, in the Kremlin; 9 - in the private collection of Viktor Vekselberg; 5 - in the Museum of Fine Arts of Virginia; 3 - in the collection of Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain; 3 - in a museum in New Orleans; 6 - in the museums of Switzerland, Washington and Baltimore (two each); one each - in the collections of the Cleveland Museum and the Prince of Monaco, the rest - in private collections. The location of the two Easter eggs is unknown.

Faberge egg "Lilies of the valley"
Retractable three medallions with portraits of the emperor and his two eldest daughters Olga and Tatyana. Master Mikhail Perkhin. Modern style. As they say, the Empress's favorite egg.
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Vekselberg Collection 1898 Author Faberge

Faberge egg "Pansies"
From jade. Inside the "easel" with medallions in the form of opening hearts - a genealogical tree with portraits.
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Private collection, New Orleans 1899 By Faberge

Faberge egg "Clock (Bouquet of lilies)"
Egg clock. Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin. The ruby ​​pandan with roses is lost.
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Armory 1899 Author Faberge

In November of the past year in London, the world was surprised by the "Week of Russian Art" - auctions were held by the auction houses Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonham's and MacDougall's. On November 28, the famous Faberge egg from the Rothschild collection made its public debut. The egg - a gift from Nicholas II for the christening of Prince Imeretinsky - is a striking clock, from which, instead of a cuckoo, a cockerel studded with diamonds jumps out every hour.

Faberge Egg "Cockerel"
Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin. Singing clock with a popping cock
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Vekselberg Collection 1900 Author Faberge

The initial price of the lot was 6-9 million pounds. As a result of active bidding, the egg was sold for a record £9.2 million to a certain Russian buyer, whose name was not disclosed. True, later information was received that Alexander Ivanov, the director of the first private museum formed in Russia, the Russian National Museum, became the happy owner of the Rothschild egg.

Prior to this, the record price was held by the "Winter Egg", which in 1913 Emperor Nicholas II presented to his mother, Empress Maria Feodorovna. At Christie`s in April 2002, it went for $9.579 million.

Some eggs, especially those with intricate surprises, took years to make. Surprises were generally the main intrigue of Faberge's Easter creations. Many of them were independent works of art: jewelry, delicate animal figurines, miniature models, images of people - as if nothing was impossible for first-class craftsmen. The secret of the egg remained undiscovered until the solemn presentation of the gift.

Faberge egg "Trans-Siberian Railway" 1900.
Surprise - train model. Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Armory Chamber Author- Faberge

Carl Faberge was born on May 30, 1846 in St. Petersburg. His ancestors, who once lived in France and were staunch Huguenots, did not voluntarily leave their homeland under the Catholic king Louis XIV.

Faberge Egg "Gatchina Palace"
Image of the main country residence of the widowed empress. Not taken out.
Jeweler - Mikhail Perkhin
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, USA 1901 By Faberge

Four years before Karl's birth, in 1842, his father Gustav Faberge, a jeweler, founded a company under his own name, located in one of the houses on Bolshaya Morskaya. But when Karl, the eldest of his sons, turned 14, Gustav moved with his family to Dresden. It was from there, at the insistence of his father, that Karl set off on his big “voyage”, accompanied by parting words to see Europe and learn jewelry making.

Faberge egg "Basket of flowers"
The leg was lost and restored later. Surprise Lost
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Collection of Queen Elizabeth II of England 1901 By Faberge

The next Faberge egg was "Jade" 1902. It is the so-called. "Medallion of Alexander III", as it supposedly contained a portrait. Its location is unknown. The first owner is Maria Fedorovna.

Faberge egg "Clover" 1902
Openwork. Surprise lost, presumably portrait miniatures of the Grand Duchesses.
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Armory by Faberge

After graduating from college in Paris, Faberge studied at the Louvre and Versailles, learning the intricacies of the jewelry art of the Venetians, Saxon stone cutters and French enamellers. He took lessons from the Frankfurt jeweler Joseph Friedman. Spiritualized and self-confident, Karl decided to return to St. Petersburg to start working there together with the masters of his father, since the company continued to exist even after the family left for Dresden. Pretty soon, Carl Faberge, 20 years old, took over his father's business.

Faberge Egg "Danish Jubilee"
Surprise - double-sided portrait of King Christian and Queen Louise, parents of the Empress, in honor of the 40th anniversary of their accession to the throne
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna.
Location unknown (lost) 1903 Author Faberge

In 1895, after the death of Agathon, a new chief artist came to the firm - Franz Birbaum. With his appearance, the products acquired a new artistic style - Faberge became interested in Art Nouveau. In 1895-1903, Mikhail Perkhin was the leading master jeweler of the House of Faberge - it was he who made most of the famous Easter eggs.

Faberge egg "Peter the Great" 1903
Inside is a model of the Bronze Horseman. 4 miniatures on the sides with views of St. Petersburg. To the 200th anniversary of the founding of the city. Rococo
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Artistic Museum of Virginia, Richmond, USA By Faberge

1904 -1905 no known eggs, presumably "Resurrection" or "Bouquet of Flowers", plus 2 eggs lost and unnamed.

Faberge Egg "Resurrection"
According to one version, it could serve as a surprise for the Renaissance egg, which fits perfectly inside (without a leg added later).

Vekselberg collection

Faberge Egg "Spring Flowers"
The similarity of the bouquet with flowers from the egg "Winter" raises a question
The first owner is unknown, but most likely belongs to the Imperial series.
Vekselberg collection

The events of 1917 put an end to the Faberge case. The jeweler himself emigrated to Germany, from where he then moved to Switzerland. With his departure, the company, which the Bolsheviks had intended to take control of, ceased to exist. Carl Faberge did not much survive his offspring - he died in Switzerland in September 1920.

Faberge egg "Swan"
It does not open evenly, but as if along the cleavage line. Surprise - swan.
The first owner is Maria Fedorovna.
Edouard and Maurice Sandoz Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland 1906 By Faberge

And in Petrograd, in the workshops where quite recently magicians created pearls of applied art for a crowned family, the Union of Jewelers settled, later called the Leningrad Jewelery Association.

Faberge Egg "Kremlin" 1906
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
The largest of the eggs. The Assumption Cathedral is depicted.
Through the windows you can see the interior of the temple. Clockwork. Armouries

... Meanwhile, in the young Soviet state, painstaking work was underway to confiscate everything that had at least some relation to the royal family. All the "wealth" found, having been assessed, was immediately nationalized. Most of the Faberge Easter eggs brought from the palaces of St. Petersburg were kept in the Armory of the Moscow Kremlin until 1922, and then were transferred to the Gokhran for sale in the antique markets of the West.

Faberge egg "Cradle with garlands"
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Also called "Trophies of Love". The surprise is gone. Louis XVI style.
Robert M. Lee Private Collection, USA 1907 By Faberge

One of the first buyers of the valuables put up for sale, including the collection of Easter eggs, was the American businessman Armand Hammer. He obviously knew what he was doing: on his return to the United States, he managed to sell the relics to his fellow collectors at a great profit for himself. The example of an enterprising American was followed by the Englishman Emanuel Snowman from Wartski. Having acquired 9 Faberge Easter eggs in Russia, he then successfully resold them in London. Naturally, the outflow of "royal wealth" from the country, which crushed the monarchy and needed considerable funds to build a new society, free from the old vestiges, was only welcomed by its leaders.

Faberge Egg "Pink Lattice"
Surprise lost, presumably a medallion with a portrait of Tsarevich Alexei
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Artistic Walters Gallery, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 1907 By Faberge

In 1927, the director of the Armory, Dmitry Dmitrievich Ivanov - now undeservedly forgotten, although he did an invaluable job to preserve many domestic works of art - turned to the Soviet government with a request to transfer the remaining Faberge masterpieces in the country to the State Treasury for safekeeping. His efforts were crowned with success - 24 Easter eggs were sent to the Armory, but, alas, not for long ...

Faberge egg "Peacock"
The peacock can be removed from the branches. Jeweler - Dorofeev. Inspired by the famous peacock clock in the Hermitage.
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Edouard and Maurice Sandoz Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland 1908 By Faberge

A couple of years later, a special commission was formed in the USSR for the seizure and sale of works of art - the government urgently needed funds "for the needs of industrialization." Imperial Easter eggs were also included in the list of antique valuables to be sold. More than half of them, namely 14, were eventually sold at unacceptably low prices. Unable to bear this blow, in 1929 Dmitry Dmitrievich committed suicide ... The remaining 10 eggs, at the cost of considerable effort, were saved from sale and left in the collection of the Armory. These salvaged relics, in fact, were destined to make up the largest collection of all the imperial Faberge Easter eggs scattered around the world.

Faberge Egg "Alexander Palace"
Made from jade. Jeweler Heinrich Wigstrom.
Surprise - a model of the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo.
Miniatures - five portraits of daughters.
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Armouries. 1908 Author Faberge

Faberge Egg "Commemorative of Alexander III"
Surprise - miniature bust.
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Location unknown (lost) 1909. Author Faberge

Faberge Egg "Yacht Standart"
Image of the yacht of Emperor Alexander III
First owner - Alexandra Fedorovna
Armory 1909 Author Faberge

Faberge egg "Equestrian monument of Alexander III" 1910
Inside the model of the monument to the emperor by Paolo Trubetskoy
First owner - Maria Fedorovna
Armory by Faberge