Faberge
Eggs
• How do treasured items reflect personal values as
well as values of a specific time and culture.
(Social Studies Standard 4)
• How to create an object that communicates the
personal and cultural significance of their family's
treasured items. (Visual Arts Standard 1)
• How have people combined written accounts of
personal histories with interpretations of
treasured items as they relate to cultural values.
(Language Arts Standard 2)
• The House of Faberge traces its
family roots from northern
France (the Favris)
• By the early 1800s the (now)
Fabergé's were located in
Estonia
• In 1842, Gustav Fabergé
opened his jewelry shop in a
basement shop in St.
Petersburg, Russia
– Sons Carl and Agathon eventually
take over the business
• The egg is seen by followers of Christianity as
a symbol of resurrection
– Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Easter
eggs are dyed red to represent blood
– Hard shell of the egg symbolized the sealed tomb
of Christ
– Eggs are blessed and given out by preists on Holy
Saturday
– Thus: the tradition of giving egg shaped jewelry!
The History of the House of Fabergé
• French was the language of the Russian Court
and the urban nobility
• All things “French” were associated with
luxury items and wealth
• Faberge was French!
The Rise of Fabergé
• The small business began
repairing pieces for the
Hermitage Museum
• Tsar Alexander III declared
the House of Faberge
"Goldsmith by special
appointment to the
Imperial Crown",
beginning an association
with the Russian tsars.
The History of the Fabergé Egg
• Between 1885 and 1917, the
Fabergé were most famously
made for the Romanov tsars
(Alexander III and Nicholas II)
– The Imperial Fabergé Eggs
– 50 were made and 42 survived
– 2 more were made, but were
not given to the tsar before his
assassination
The History of the Fabergé Egg
• Made of precious metals or hard
stones
• Decorated with combinations of
enamel and gem stones.
• Fabergé eggs have become a symbol of
luxury,
• Regarded as masterpieces of the
jeweler's art
• Tsars’ only requirement: each must
contain a surprise
The Hen,
1885
Bay Tree Egg,
1911
The Coronation
Egg, 1897
The Czarevich Egg,
1912
Lilies of the
Valley Egg, 1898
The Spring Flowers Egg, 1890
Significance
• What did the Fabergé Eggs Mean to the
Romanovs?
– Tradition, beauty, wealth, privilege, importance of
family memories)
• What did the eggs come to later symbolize for
the Soviets?
– Indulgences of the Russian Czar, contrast to the
plight of the Russian people, source of income by
selling them
Make Your Own Faberge Egg