MORE SENSATIONS FROM FABERGE

An exhibit that shows works by Carl Faberge, one of the most celebrated jewelers of the late 19th to early 20th century, was running till September in the Moscow Kremlin's Assumption Belfry. On display are unique Easter eggs made by Carl Faberge's shops. They were commissioned by the Russian imperial family. Beginning in 1885, the jeweler created each year an Easter souvenir that invariably stunned the sovereign clients by the originality of the subject and excellence in jewelry making. In total, 50 Easter eggs were created for the imperial family. The historical tempests of the 20th century scattered these treasures across the globe. A mere 10 eggs that formed the core of the exhibition are kept today in the Armory of the Moscow Kremlin. However, the organizers of the display sprang a surprise on the visitors: the unfinished eleventh egg, Tsesarevich's Constellation (1917). It was recently found in the storerooms of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Made from rock crystal and amazingly beautiful dark-blue glass, the egg was supposed to depict the celestial sphere resting on a cloud made from white matte quartz with the Lion constellation studded with tiny diamonds. Unfortunately, the egg remained unfinished: there are no clockwork and dial plate, which had to encircle the celestial sphere. The diamonds, too, went missing.

The exhibition is supplemented with Faberge artifacts from the State Hermitage Museum. They are consonant with nature's awakening in spring: figurines of birds and animals, flowers in small rock crystal vases, including the famous Cornflowers With Oat Spikelets. Deutsche Bank sponsored the exhibition.

Oleg Torchinsky
Photos by Sergey Shcherbakov