We have mentioned previously about several items of interest we have acquired from the renowned Russian craftsman Peter Karl Gustavovich Faberzhe who is often referred to as simply Karl Fabergé. He was born in 1846 in Saint Petersburg, Russia into a family of Baltic German jewellers of Huguenot descent. During his early life he moved to Dresden and then he received tuition from respected goldsmiths in Germany, France and England, before he enrolled at the Schloss’s Commercial College in Paris on its prestigious jewellery course. Fabergé returned to Saint Petersburg in 1864 and entered his father’s firm. By 1881, Karl earned enough recognition among his peers to be appointed a Master of the Second Guild, which marked him as a merchant or retailer as well as a craftsman. The firm’s first major breakthrough was in 1882, when Karl and Agathon Fabergé were a sensation at the Pan-Russian Exhibition of Industry and the Arts held in Moscow and awarded gold medal status.
Karl gifted his first imperial egg to Emperor Alexander III’s wife Maria Feodorovna to celebrate the Orthodox Easter in 1885. So delighted by The Hen Egg she had the emperor patronise the firm and awarded it with the title of Supplier to the Imperial Court on May 1, 1885.
Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the firm submitted proposals for wartime production which continued until the October Revolution in 1917. Karl escaped Russia in 1918 and passed away at the Hotel Bellevue in Lausanne, Switzerland, on September 24, 1920.
Recently a small silver ornamental object d’art came into our possession in the shape of an exquisitely formed sculptured pig. Showing all the attributes of the expert craftsmanship synonymous of the Fabergé era, this little pig has quality exuding from every angle. They are often referred to as a table ornament or a paperweight, being in the form of a beast couchant or lying down. The silversmith then accentuates the
eyes by inlaying them with fine old cut rubies. Extremely tactile our little pig is a delight to own. It is currently displayed as part of our main window decoration.
As always here at Juels’ Limited we are forever on a quest to seek extraordinary objects of jewellery and objects d’art. Our diamond and antique jewellery selection is becoming a destination for our customers who want that extra ordinary vintage or one-off bespoke item that may separate them from the masses. So, if you are looking for that quality item from a bygone era or wish to sell such an item, please seek out James in store Tuesday to Saturday between 9am and 4.30pm.