FABERGE Peter

Peter Faberge (30.05.1846 year - the year 24.09.1920)

The highest technology, inexhaustible imagination and elegance of the forms made of Faberge recognized leader of the world of jewelry, unsurpassed standard. As written by the Empress Maria Feodorovna her sister Queen Anne: "Faberge - the incomparable genius of our time".

Paradoxically, the egg, something simple in form, has become a symbol of many cultures. Since ancient times, eggs symbolized the birth and resurrection. Egyptians placed them next to the coffins of the dead, the Greeks put on the graves. Early Christian church took over the attitude to the egg, as a miracle. According to one apocryphal legend, a poor merchant eggs helped Christ carry the cross. Returning home, he saw that the eggs began to shine with all the colors of the rainbow. In the future, the egg retains an important role in the history of Christianity. Eggs with paintings on religious themes existed in the XIII century. The tradition to give at Easter specially constructed and decorated eggs appeared in the XVI century. When the French king Francis 1 (1494-1547) was presented with a carved wooden egg depicting the Passion,. Gold-plated and painted eggs have become popular gifts in the royal courts.

The name of Peter Carl Faberge we associate with brilliantly executed jewelry Easter eggs. The famous jeweler was born in Russia in St. Petersburg, May 30, 1846, Mr.. Father - Gustav Faberge was from Mr.. Pцєrnu (Estonia) and came from a German family, mother - Charlotte Yungshtedt, was the daughter of Danish artist. In 1841, Mr.. Faberge senior received the title "Gold as a master, and in 1842, Mr.. founded a jewelry firm in St. Petersburg on Bolshaya Morskaya Street in the house? 12. The company prospered, but 1860. Gustav Faberge retired, handing over management of the firm to its employees X. Pendina and B. Zayanchovskomu.

Son of Gustav Faberge, Carl studied in Dresden, traveled in Europe, and then began to develop jewelry at the Frankfurt master Joseph Friedman. The talent of the young man was so bright and nezauryaden that in 24 years in 1870. he was able to take his father's firm in his hands. Faberge Jr. turned it into a larger premises on the same Bolshaya Morskaya Street house 16/17. In 1882, Mr.. at the All Arts and Industrial Exhibition in Moscow, products of the firm attracted the attention of Emperor Alexander III and his wife Maria Feodorovna. Peter Carl received the patronage of the royal family and the title of "His Imperial Majesty's a jeweler and goldsmith of the Imperial Hermitage.

A few years later, in 1885. company has received international recognition at Nuremberg "Exhibition of Fine Arts". Gold medals were awarded copies of the Scythian Treasures. Ibid exhibited a golden egg, covered in white enamel with a gold yolk, which was hidden chicken colored gold. Chicken was in a "surprise" - a miniature imperial crown and a ruby pendant in the form of eggs. This product was made at Easter for the wife of Alexander III - Maria Feodorovna. It is with this thing started the tradition of annual gifts of the royal family, who commissioned the firm of Faberge.

Sam Carl Faberge Inspired by the Emperor's attention, has opened a new direction in jewelry. The company started using semi-precious stones and minerals - rock crystal, jade, topaz, jasper, lapis lazuli and other. First stone products ordered Ural masters and the Peterhof Lapidary Works and semi-finished doing enough themselves. Later opened their own stone-cutting workshop in St. Petersburg. Precious stones and gems created miniature figures of animals, people and flowers. They differed remarkably lively and enjoyable forms. Another type of masonry work were seals - products purely practical purpose, but each of them - true jewelry masterpiece.

. The company has revived many of the techniques of stone processing, the use of transparent colored enamels and gold multicolor
. So far remains playing the famous guilloche enamel. Appliances overlay transparent enamel on carved background has long been known. However, the master of Faberge have not had much perfection. Using the color palette, . counted more than 124 colors and shades, . every time they create a new decorative effect and a special play of light through the patterns guilloche background, . consisting of vertical and horizontal stripes, . herringbone, . scales, . zigzags.,

. Manufacturing exquisitely decorated Easter eggs was a tradition in Russia and the ancient craft
. But only for Fabergц? managed to bring the art of making jewelry Easter eggs to excellence and elegance. Eggs-souvenirs were a surprise not only for those to whom they were intended as a gift, but also for the customer. "Your Majesty will be quite" - so meet Faberge question about the story of the next product. They amazed its repeatability. Faberge himself responsive to the variability of taste and fashion, and even could predict their. The company employs many prominent artists, among which the most famous Michael Perkhin.

The most favorite subjects were miniature portraits of the imperial family, or images of places and events connected with their lives. The most famous product in this genre - the egg, devoted to 15th anniversary of accession to the throne of Nicholas II. It is decorated with miniatures artist Vasily Zuev, which is a portrait of the Emperor, Empress, children and famous historical events that occurred during the reign of Nicholas II. This kind of family album was donated by Nicholas II to his wife at Easter 1911. Egg is made of gold, transparent and opaque white and green enamel, diamonds, rock crystal and decorated with paintings on ivory.

For Easter eggs were popular Deposit model of precious metals. In the egg, dedicated to the coronation in 1896, invested a miniature carriage, which drove Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Color eggs reminds coronation dress, the carriage doors open, the steps are added, the windows - from crystal. Inside the coach hung a tiny egg with diamonds.

Another golden miniature, located inside the Easter eggs - a model of the cruiser "Memory of Azov". Egg is made of dark green with red patches of heliotrope and adorned with gold and diamond-patterned. Model cruiser gold and platinum accurately reproduces the appearance of the ship. Simulating water aquamarine plate enclosed in a gold frame. Cruiser of the Baltic Fleet "Memory of Azov" was built in 1890, received its name in honor of the feat of sailing ship "Azov" in the naval battle of Navarino in 1827

At the turn of the XIX - XX centuries. Faberge firm began to produce eggs with a winding mechanism. In 1900, Mr.. at the World Exhibition in Paris visitors with curiosity at the precious new toy of Faberge - response to the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. On the silver egg was placed an engraved map of Russia with the designation of the Siberian railway. Of particular interest is the emerging model of the first three times Siberian train, consisting of a platinum locomotive with a ruby lantern and lights of the diamond rose gold and five cars. The mechanism of the trains start up a golden key.

. How inspired by Carl Faberge, . creating such exceptional skills and techniques of objects? During his studies in Dresden, . He certainly became acquainted with collections of museums, . including the famous Green treasury, . which were collected Elector of Saxony and King of Poland Augustus the Strong magnificent works of art,
. Among them were small enamel figurines, created a remarkable German goldsmith of the XVIII century. Johann. Perhaps these works have applied the idea of Faberge Easter eggs with figures inside.

The firm was famous Faberge in Europe. Numerous royal and princely families of the imperial family in Russia Britain, Denmark, Greece, Bulgaria received jewelry as a gift, a very valued and they have inherited. International exhibitions also contributed to the well-known firm. In 1900, Mr.. in Paris, Faberge was awarded the title "Masters of the Paris Jewelers Guild, and the French government awarded him the Order of the Legion of Honor. Even in such distant places as Thailand or Baltimore Faberge was "in fashion".

Russia's booming economy has created a new class of entrepreneurs. Faberge's products have enjoyed enormous success with financiers and industrialists, large landowners and the aristocracy. Were opened three branch office in Moscow, Odessa and Kiev.

Unfortunately, the dramatic events of the revolution of 1917 forced the Faberge firm to close in 1918. Sam Peter Carl Faberge, emigrated to Switzerland, where he died on Sept. 24, 1920