Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution, opening on Saturday 20 November, showcases the largest collection of Fabergé's Imperial Easter Eggs, several of which have never been seen in public before. This is the climax of years of research, precisely four years in the making!
Fabergé’s delicate whimsical creations are as inspirational and desirable today as they were when first imagined. These objects of wonder are vehicles for emotions, suggestions of relationships of love and ambition, and that joy and exhilaration of life becomes almost tangible.
Peter Carl Fabergé was born in St Petersburg on 30 May 1846, the son of a jeweller. He took control of his father’s business in 1872 and his talents quickly won him the patronage of the Russian Emperors. Fabergé supplied them with jewelled gifts, including the Imperial Easter Eggs for which the firm is famed.
Fabergé divided his business into workshops focusing on different areas of production. Individual specialists were responsible for separate parts of the production process within these workshops. As each person perfected their specialism, the quality of the combined work increased.
The resulting objects were the collective product of numerous craftspeople working together. To meet the high standards expected by his customers, Fabergé sought and nurtured the greatest talents. He also ensured his firm’s working practices fostered a supportive familial atmosphere.
The imperial family was fascinated with his works and this passion spread to their royal relatives in Britain. In 1903, Fabergé opened a branch in London, at that time a place of conspicuous consumption, which attracted a glittering clientele.
“The story of Carl Fabergé, the legendary Russian Imperial goldsmith, is one of supreme luxury and unsurpassed craftsmanship. Celebrating Fabergé’s extraordinary achievements, this exhibition focuses on the over-looked importance of his London branch, the only one outside of Russia. It attracted a global clientele of Royalty, aristocrats, business titans and socialites.” Kieran McCarthy and Hanne Faurby, Curators
When the First World War and Russian Revolution broke out, Fabergé was forced to close his firm. He fled Russia and died in Switzerland in 1920. Yet, desire for his works endured and collectors were able to buy Fabergé works from the Bolsheviks’ sales of treasures confiscated from the Imperial family and Russian aristocracy.
Today, Fabergé’s fame lives on, largely due to an enduring fascination with the Imperial Easter Eggs. These extravagant objects have become the epitome of luxury and testament to an extraordinary goldsmith. They stand as striking expressions craftsmanship, and are the grand finale of this incredibly inspiring exhibition.
20 November 2021 – 8 May 2022
Victoria & Albert museum
London
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