Romanovs and Fabergè eggs in London in their largest exhibition ever
Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution will be the first major exhibition devoted to the international prominence of the legendary Russian goldsmith and the importance of his little-known London branch. With a focus on Fabergé’s Edwardian high society clientele, it will shine a light on his triumphs in Britain as well as the global fascination with the opulence of his creations. Across over 200 objects, the exhibition will tell the story of Carl Fabergé, the man, and his internationally recognised firm that symbolised Russian craftsmanship and elegance – an association further strengthened by its connection to the romance, glamour and tragedy of the Russian Imperial family.
The exhibition will include:
- The recently rediscovered Third Imperial Egg of 1887, found by a scrap dealer in 2011 – one of the ‘missing’ eggs created by Fabergé that was lost for many years. It appeared at an auction in New York in 1964, but was unrecognised and then disappeared until 2011, when it was bought for its gold weight value at a Midwest flea market. The buyer later contacted the antique jewellery firm Wartski who identified it as being an Imperial easter egg. The jewelled and ridged yellow-gold Egg, on a tripod pedestal, stands on chased lion paw feet and is encircled by coloured gold garlands suspended from blue cabochon sapphires, topped with rose diamond-set bows. In the traditional Fabergé style, the egg contains a surprise – a lady’s watch by Vacheron Constantin, with a white enamel dial and openwork diamond-set gold hands. The egg was first given by Emperor Alexander III to Empress Marie Feodorovna for Easter in 1887.
- Two rare human sculptures that only after the Imperial easter eggs are considered the most coveted of his creations with less than 50 ever recorded; a pair of figurine portraits of the private bodyguards of the Dowager Empress and the Tsarina, commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II in 1912, reunited for the first time in over 100 years since they were confiscated following the Russian Revolution in 1917, along with nearly all of the imperial family’s personal possessions.
- One of the figures remained in Pavlovsk Palace south of St Petersburg while his brother-in-arms was bought by a wealthy Fabergé collector in New York City, discovered in the family attic during a house clearance and later sold at auction in 2013. •
- The Peacock Egg of 1907-8, shown on public display for the first time in over a decade. This rock crystal egg, finely engraved with rocaille, contains a surprise of an enamelled gold peacock automaton, perched in the branches of a coloured gold tree with flowers in enamel and precious stones. The peacock, when lifted from the tree, placed on a flat surface and wound up, proudly struts around and fans out its tail feathers.
Previously announced star objects include a commission from King Edward of his faithful wirehaired fox terrier Caesar, a notebook given by Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to Queen Victoria for Christmas in 1896, and a sparkling aquamarine and diamond tiara – a token of love from Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of MecklenburgSchwerin to his bride Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland. Fabergé’s innovation will further be embodied in his whimsical designs of functional objects including a silver cigar-cutter modelled as a carp. Fabergé’s inspiration came from many sources and he particularly admired Japanese works of art, owning a significant collection of Japanese artefacts. This imaginative silver cigar cutter is modelled on a Japanese Meiji period bronze. When its protruding pink chalcedony eyes are pressed, the blade opens across its mouth and the fish appears to breathe.
Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution Gallery 39 and the North Court, V&A
20 November 2021 – 8 May 2022
