24th September 2010
Peter Carl Fabergé, Jeweller to the Tzars
by Gerry Burrows
Gerry Burrows (who is a member of the Society) has built a
reputation as a provider of informative, entertaining and very well researched
lectures. This lecture on the life and works of the most famous Fabergé
had all the hallmarks.
The fact that Fabergé was in Russia, and so in a position to cater for the Imperial Family's tradition of exchanging Easter eggs, was down to the French King Louis XIV's decision to make life intolerable for French Protestants and the consequent exodus to other parts of Europe. Peter Carl's father Gustav, who had become a jeweller, opened a shop in St. Petersburg in 1843 and this became the foundation of the legend.
Peter Carl Fabergé was born in 1846 and when he was old enough he began to train as a goldsmith, which included gaining experience abroad and from working with ancient artefacts at the Hermitage. Peter Carl took over the business in 1870 and in 1885 made his first Easter egg for the Russian Court.
The lecture continued with illustrations of many of the Imperial eggs that were produced over the years to the end of the Romanov Dynasty. Also there were illustrations and descriptions of the many other beautiful objects produced by Fabergé. The lecture ended with the end of the Romanovs, but many of the eggs and other Fabergé objects survive and were brought close to this audience.
The fact that Fabergé was in Russia, and so in a position to cater for the Imperial Family's tradition of exchanging Easter eggs, was down to the French King Louis XIV's decision to make life intolerable for French Protestants and the consequent exodus to other parts of Europe. Peter Carl's father Gustav, who had become a jeweller, opened a shop in St. Petersburg in 1843 and this became the foundation of the legend.
Peter Carl Fabergé was born in 1846 and when he was old enough he began to train as a goldsmith, which included gaining experience abroad and from working with ancient artefacts at the Hermitage. Peter Carl took over the business in 1870 and in 1885 made his first Easter egg for the Russian Court.
The lecture continued with illustrations of many of the Imperial eggs that were produced over the years to the end of the Romanov Dynasty. Also there were illustrations and descriptions of the many other beautiful objects produced by Fabergé. The lecture ended with the end of the Romanovs, but many of the eggs and other Fabergé objects survive and were brought close to this audience.