The Art of Faberge

Easter egg "The Moscow Kremlin"
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, 1904-1906. Faberge Firm. Gold, silver, glass, onyx, mica, fabric, base metal; casting, enamel, engraving, guilloche, granulation, oil painting. Presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna for Easter 1906.
Dipper (kovsh)
Russia, Moscow, 1908-1917. Faberge Firm. Craftsman F. Ruckert. Silver; enamel on filigree, painted enamel, gilding.
Saltcellar
Russia, Moscow, 1890s. I.Saltykov factory. Silver; Punching,enamel on filigree, chiselling, gilding.
Lidded tankard
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, 1864. P. Sazikov firm. Silver, emeralds, spinel; embossing, casting, champlevé.
Casket
Russia, Moscow, 1881. P. Ovchinnikov firm. Silver, velvet; punching, gilding, enamel, filigree.
Fish figurine
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, the early XXth century. Faberge firm. Cornelian; stone carving.
Female figurine ("Wet-nurse")
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, the late XIXth - early XXth century. Fabergé firm. Rhodonite, nephrite, chalcedony, lapis lazuli, obsidian, sapphires; stone carving.
Brooch
Saint-Petersburg, the late XIXth century. Monogrammist КФ (?). Agate, brilliant, rose-cut diamonds, sapphires, gold, glass; embossing, fretwork.
Desk clock with a key
The clock body - Russia, Saint-Petersburg, last quarter of the ХIХth century. Clockwork - France, Paris, the late XIXth century. Fabergé firm, craftsman M. Perkhin. Bowenite, silver, pearls, silver, metal; casting, enamel, embossing, stone carving, punching.
Framed icon of Our Lady of Kazan
Painting - Russia, the late XIXth - early ХХth century. The cover - Moscow, circa 1908. I. Tarabrov workshop. Gold, silver, rose-cut diamonds, emerald, pearls, glass, wood, fabric; embossing, enamel on filigree, carving, chiselling, gilding, tempera.
Easter egg with a model of "The memory of Azov" cruiser
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, 1891. Faberge firm, craftsman M. Perkhin. Gold, platinum, silver, brilliants, rose-cut diamonds, ruby, aquamarine, heliotrope, velvet, base metal; casting, engraving, stone carving, chasing, connecting-up. Presented by Emperor Alexander III to Empress Maria Fyodorovna for Easter 1891.
Cupid's-delight (wild pansy)
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, 1904. Faberge firm, craftsman H. Wigström. Colored gold, rose-cut diamonds, turquoise, rock crystal, ivory; casting, carving, chasing, engraving, blueing, gilding, guilloche, enamel, watercolours. Presented by Emperor Nicholas II to his wife Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna on the occasion of the tenth wedding anniversary.
Brooch
Russia, 1899-1908. Gold, silver, brilliants, rose-cut diamonds, pearls; chasing, fretwork, connecting-up.
Brush in a case
Russia, Moscow, 1910-1917. Gold, plastic, leather; punching, fretwork, carving.
Cigarette case
Russia, Kazan, 1908-1917. Gold, precious stones, synthetic (artificial) rubies; punching.
Record book
Russia, Saint-Petersburg, 1908-1917. Faberge firm, craftsman H. Wigström. Gold, pearls, leather, moire, paper; casting, embossing, enamel on guilloche, painted enamel.
Toy car
Russia, the late XIXth century. Silver, filigree.

February, 06 - April, 29, 2013

China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Organized by:: the Moscow Kremlin Museums, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Easter egg "The Moscow Kremlin" One of the most precious Kremlin collections of a great historical and cultural value is the one incorporating pieces of jewellery produced by the famous Faberge firm, the distinguished Russian firms of P. Ovchinnikov, I. Khlebnikov, O. Kurlyukov, G. Klingert, M. Semyonov.

For the first time such a collection of artworks of C. Faberge and other renowned craftsmen from the Moscow Kremlin Museums funds is exposed in the country, which is distinguished by the tradition of jewellery making and art of processing of stones and metal.

Over one hundred and fifty high-quality articles are intended to present one of the most flourishing and outstanding periods in the history of the Russian goldsmithery in the epoch, which is called the “Silver Age” of the Russian culture and arts. At the turn of the XIXth century Russian craftsmen invented a new original consummate style, which incorporated a retrospective trend and national traditions along with fashionable utilitarian design, so popular in the modern society. The Faberge’s triumph and “genius”, mentioned by Russian Empress Maria Fyodorovna, has contributed to the development of the Russian jewellery industry and marked a new page in the history of the Russian and foreign industrial art.

The exhibition gives a unique opportunity to observe not only the items from the Armoury collection but also the rarities from the Moscow Kremlin Museums' funds, including religious items and memorabilia, pieces of jewellery and tableware, articles of coloured stones, as well as the Faberge masterpieces – precious Easter eggs, executed for the last two Russian Empresses.

The exhibits reveal the techniques perfected by the distinguished craftsmen of Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and Kiev, such as multicoloured enamel on filigree, highly skilled chasing, genre casting and stone cutting. Composed of the items, produced by various firms and workshops, the exposition explores the main features and mechanism of development of the art of jewellery making at the turn of the century.