The ‘Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution’ exhibition will open at the V&A museum on 20th November and run through until 8 May. Amongst the 200 items will be three of the famous Imperial Fabergé eggs, on display for the first time in the UK.
Many of Carl Fabergé’s exquisitely made creations are reunited for the first time since the Russian revolution in this major exhibition. The Third Imperial Egg of 1887 (see video below) that was saved from a scrap heap will also be on show alongside some of the rarest pieces including the 1907-08 Peacock egg and two human sculptures. After the eggs, the human figurines are the most coveted Fabergé items as only 50 were recorded as having been made. The Peacock egg carved of rock crystal houses an automaton of the magnificent bird that when wound up, struts regally and fans out his tail feathers. The automaton was restored by the Swiss watchmaker Michel Parmigiani and is still functioning.
Read more about the history of Fabergé here.
As the name suggests, the focus is on works by the Russian jeweller Carl Fabergé for his British clients highlighting the truly international nature of his reach, at a time when few other jewellers worked beyond their home turf. His London shop provided luxurious gifts for Britain’s wealthy Edwardian elite and royalty including a commission from King Edward of a stone carving of his wire-haired fox terrier Caesar. Fabergé was successful beyond Russia thanks not only to the opulence of his works but his success in innovating and combining playfulness with ingenious mechanics as seen in the Carp cigar cutter. Delicate jewels, stone carvings and enamel flowers are just some of the masterpieces that showcase the range techniques that the firm Fabergé employed in its St Petersburg workshops known for experimenting with new materials, technologies and novel manufacturing solutions.
The exhibition runs from 20th November – 8 May 2022
Click here for tickets on sale at V&A.
