Just the word Fabergé conjures the splendor of late 19th and early 20th century Imperial Russia and those fancy jeweled eggs the Romanovs gave to each during Easter before the Bolsheviks stormed their palaces.
But after spending a day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) with a room full of Fabergé works from 12 states and nine countries, I learned that there's a little more to to the story than bejeweled eggs.
Tatiana Fabergé (daughter of Theodore Carl Fabergé, who was the grandson of Peter Carl Fabergé), Fabergé scholar Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm and Russian researcher Galina Korneva provided history and context for appreciating the extraordinary legacy of the House of Fabergé on display in Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision, an exhibition from the McFerrin Collection featuring 350 of the dazzling objects.
Meet Carl
Gustav Fabergé may have started the biz in 1842, but it was his son, Carl, who we most associate with the flourishing firm that provided nobles with luxury goods, gilded gifts and those gorgeous enameled eggs. He built an internationally-renowned jewelry dynasty that was revered for its products and innovative business structure, which involved creative freedom for his workshop designers.
Here are some impressive numbers: 150,000 objects, 500 employees, 140 hues of enamel, many of which have never been duplicated. Also, he pretty much invented the cigarette case. "It was the iPhone of the day," quipped Tillander-Godenhielm.
I ran into my my Medici friend, Amanda Norris, and her team of super smart docents, who can already rattle off Fabergé facts with lightening speed. Norris urges us to look beyond the eggs.
Here are some impressive numbers: 150,000 objects, 500 employees, 140 hues of enamel, many of which have never been duplicated.
"You will see from this show the wide variety of items that his workshops produced, everything from bell pushes, wooden picture frames, barometers, mesh purses, opera glasses, the Guilloché Enameled clocks and the beautiful aquamarine brooch," says Norris.
"It's remarkable to think that Fabergé and his workmasters were able to create such extraordinary pieces using techniques that are so difficult to master."
And wouldn't you know it, there's a Medici connection. "When Fabergé toured Europe to learn his craft he spent time in Florence at one of the Medici founded workshops learning about hard stone carvings," adds Norris.
Fabergé was a designer's designer. Sure, he used diamonds, but he made a delicate trellis out of them to dress up an egg.
"He wasn't worried about the value of the materials he used, but about how those materials would enhance the object he was working on. Fabergé used stone that would work best for the subject of his carvings," she says. "It shows his artist side more than anything."
The Brilliant Vision
If you already saw the 2009/2010 show Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars, it's not a reason to stay home. The current show has over 200 new pieces including two new Fabergé eggs, the Diamond Trellis Imperial Egg and one of the celebrated Kelch Eggs.
After a morning of hardcore Fabergé history, it was finally time to see the actual goods. Entering this pristine white room, I wondered how is it that, even after a bloody revolution, we are able to gaze upon this bounty.
Who knew that broke revolutionaries would play a role in our access to these magnificent pieces.
"Good question," responded Tim Adams, a jewelry scholar.
"The Bolsheviks needed hard currency, so they sold these objects. Armand Hammer was there to purchase them, in turn saving them. Some where destroyed or melted down for materials as well."
Who knew that broke revolutionaries would play a role in our access to these magnificent pieces.
The Pillowcase Stash
When the Grand Duchess Vladimir fled her palace to safety during the revolution in 1918, she sent back a servant to collect some of the valuables. He didn't have time to find the best container, so he grabbed two pillowcases, one for the valuables of the Grand Duke and another for the Grand Duchess. The pillowcases were taken to the Swedish Embassy, which would close shortly after the revolution.
These pillowcases were eventually confiscated, stashed and forgotten in a dusty box at the Swedish Legation. They remained there until 2009 when they were re-discovered.
"The pillowcase is inscribed "Appartient à/ S.A.I. la Gr. Duch./Wladimir." It's the "la" that tells us it held the Duchess' belongings," Norris tells us. One of these pillowcases, along with the objects found in it, is included in this exhibit.
Snowy Eggs
Without a doubt, the Nobel Ice Egg is the exhibit's pièce de résistance. It was designed by Alma Pihl while she was working in her uncle's workshop.
The story goes that she looked out the window and saw the intricate patterns of ice crystals, which ended up inspiring an incredibly successful line of pendants and other items. Like many of the Fabergé staff, she escaped to her homeland, Finland, after the revolution where she became a school teacher.
She remained silent about her time at Fabergé due to political strains between Russia and Finland. Tillander-Godenhielm actually met the famed Ice Egg designer, but it was through Pihl's brother who worked at A. Tillander, that her remarkable story was revealed.
History in an Egg
I found Korneva's tales of growing up in Russia — where the history of her homeland was kept under wraps — incredibly moving. She has dedicated her life to unearthing it, and indeed, she was one of the researchers for the great pillowcase mystery.
T here was something magical about following Tatiana around in the exhibit.
Much has changed, and Russia is slowly allowing its rich history to be told. "Will there ever be a Fabergé museum in Russia?" I asked her. "They have been working on one for years. I hope so," she replied.
There was something magical about following Tatiana around in the exhibit. She has seen many a Fabergé collection in her years, yet the McFerrin Collection holds a special place in her heart. "This collection feels gathered in love."
I asked Tatiana what would be the one thing she wanted the world to know about her family's legacy. "That Fabergé made things well."
Nobel Ice Egg and "Surprise" Watch Pendant by Fabergé, workmaster Albert Holmstrom, St. Petersburg 1913
