Imperial jewellery by Faberge, including those extravagant eggs, are on display in India for the first time. Anoothi Vishal is awe-struck.
You’ve heard of them, of course, as symbols of a luxurious, decadent time. But have you ever seen them? The Fabergé eggs, crafted for the last of the Romanovs, are synonymous with extravagance. And with each now a priceless collectible, references in popular culture are inevitable — don’t we all remember the Bond film Octopussy, for instance, featuring not just a stolen egg but also our own Vijay Amritraj? Now, here’s a chance to see the real collection at the National Museum in Delhi. An exhibition of Fabergé jewellery is on, courtesy the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). This is the first time ever that the collection, comprising 196 pieces and valued at $26 million, is being showcased as such. The exhibition can be seen as a fitting finale to the Festival of Russia in India, which took place this year after a hiatus of 20 years. It took a year to bring together the pieces from various museums and private collections in Moscow, St Petersburg and London.
But first things first: Apparently, 69 Fabergé eggs were made by Peter Carl Fabergé and his assistants between 1885 and 1917, most of them for Russian royalty. Only 61 survive now, 30 still in Russia.
The Easter of 1885 marked the 20th anniversary of Czar Alexander III and Czarina Maria Fedorovna, and the emperor decided to surprise his wife with a unique gift — he placed an order for an egg with a young jeweller, Fabergé, whose creations had caught his wife’s eye earlier. Thus was born a tradition. After his death, his son carried on with it.
The works displayed show increasing extravagance and innovation with each passing year and the design sensibilities reflect prevailing trends. Seeing these along with other artefacts on display (brooches, bracelets, pendants, goblets, cigarette cases, even a coronation snuff box) is truly seeing history in progress.
The Cuckoo Egg, 1900
Presented by Nicholas II to his wife Maria Fyodorovna, this is considered to be a tribute to the “historic” 19th century. At this time, Russian art looked to the West; Baroque influences were prevalent combined with traditional decorations. A cult developed around the French style in St Petersburg in 1900, and monuments and statues were also built around these sensibilities.
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The Fifteenth Anniversary Egg, 1911
Given by Nicholas II to his wife, this has miniature portraits of the family and notable events in the reign of Nicholas II, in exquisite detail. Here’s a family album, over five inches tall. This is a staggering tour de force of the jeweller’s art and, more than any other egg, the one most closely associated with the family.
Renaissance Egg, 1894
Presented by Alexander III to empress Maria Fyodorovna, done in gold, diamonds and enamel. This was the last gift by him to his darling “Minnie”. In October 1894, the emperor died in his wife’s arms. The egg is obviously the result of the Antiquarian movement in art which was favoured in Europe back then.
Bay Tree Egg, 1911
Presented by Nicholas II to his widowed mother Maria Fyodorovna. It came with a clockwork singing bird with natural feathers. The bird, surrounded by foliage, would open its mouth and sing, flap its wings and turn in various directions. The foliage is made of green jade, spinach-green in colour. Modelled on an orange tree, with flowers at various stages of bloom, it was possibly to remind the empress of her own youth and marriage to her “darling Sasha”.
The Rose Bud Egg, 1895
Made from gold, enamel and diamonds. Presented by Czar Nicholas II to his young wife Alexandra Fyodorovna. This was the first (recorded) egg she got. After the death of Alexander III, his son rigidly proclaimed that he would follow all “tradition”, including the gifting of Easter eggs. This is an exquisite creation, executed in the Neo-Classical style.
The Lilies of the Valley Egg, 1898
Presented by Nicholas II to his wife Alexandra as a declaration of love. This one was done in the Art Nouveau style that was trendy at that time. The shell is covered in delicate pink enamel and decorated with rows of diamond roses, green enamel leaves and pearl flowers. Faberge produced three eggs in this style, including also the famous Pansy Egg.
The Cross of St George Egg, 1916
Presented by Nicholas II to his mother, this was made during World War I. This was the last egg that the Dowager Empress would receive. In the chilly pre-dawn hours of July 17, 1918, Nicholas and Alexandra, with their five children, were executed. Maria Fyodorovna herself escaped and made a hasty departure from her homeland — with the egg.
The Coronation Egg, 1897
Made from gold, enamel and platinum. This was presented by Nicholas II to his wife, Alexandra Fyodorovna, to commemorate their coronation. An amazing “surprise” was concealed inside — a tiny, exact replica of the carriage in which the empress arrived in Moscow, in May 1896.
The coupe, dating to 1793, had been used for all subsequent coronations since the 18th century. For this particular reproduction, craftsmen faithfully copied all original parts in great detail: both the doors open, footboards descend, and the carriage has a turntable so that it can turn around and roll in a life-like way.