The House of Fabergé was founded in St. Petersburg in 1842. Fabergé is best known for its jewelled enamel Easter eggs, but it also produced ornaments, jewels and decorative objects. These include frames, cigarette cases, hardstone animals and flowers.
After studying goldsmithing in several European centres, Peter Carl Fabergé returned to St. Petersburg in 1864 and joined his father’s firm. He took full control of the business in 1882, the same year he first attracted the attention of the Russian imperial family at the Pan-Russian Exhibition in Moscow.
In 1885 the House of Fabergé was issued a royal warrant and received its first commission for an imperial Fabergé egg. Between 1885 and 1916, Fabergé created 50 Easter eggs for the Russian imperial family. The Third Imperial Easter Egg is the most expensive Fabergé egg. It was created for Tsar Alexander III and presented to his wife, Maria Feodorovna, as an Easter gift in 1887. The egg opens to reveal a Vacheron Constantin clock. The egg was lost for many years but resurfaced in 2012. It now resides in a private collection.
In addition to the Fabergé Romanov eggs, the Russian jeweller created the magnificent Duchess of Marlborough Fabergé Egg. It was commissioned by Consuelo Vanderbilt in 1902 and is now on display in the Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg.
Following the firm’s success in St. Petersburg, in 1887 Fabergé established a branch in Moscow. The monumental works in silver produced there are among the finest objects ever produced by the firm.
In 1900 he was awarded a gold medal and the Légion d’Honneur for the 14 jewel-encrusted Fabergé Easter eggs he presented at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. Fabergé objects were soon coveted by Europe’s elite, routinely serving as diplomatic gifts.
Fabergé opened his first boutique in London in 1903. The firm’s success continued until the 1917 Russian Revolution when Fabergé’s boutiques and workshops were seized by the Bolsheviks. Carl escaped to Switzerland where he died in 1920.
In 2021 a selection of Fabergé masterpieces from the Harry Woolf Collection were offered at Christie’s in London. The sale coincided with the major Fabergé exhibition, Fabergé in London: From Romance to Revolution at the V&A Museum, and realised £5,203,250.
A Rare and Important Jewelled Three-Colour Gold and Guilloché Enamel Imperial Presentation Snuff-Box
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 1978, THE PORTRAIT MINIATURE BY VASILII ZUEV
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND VARICOLOUR GOLD MINIATURE MODEL OF A SEDAN CHAIR
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER’S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 2707
A highly Important monumental silver presentation punch bowl formed as a kovsh
MARKED FABERGÉ AND WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF JULIUS RAPPOPORT, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1891
AN EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPRESSIVE IMPERIAL SILVER RHINOCEROS AUTOMATON
BY FABERGÉ, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1909
AN IMPORTANT JEWELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED PURPURINE BOX
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1913, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 24687
A RARE AND IMPORTANT THREE-COLOUR GOLD AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL IMPERIAL PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 999
A Silver-Gilt Mounted Guilloché Enamel and Bowenite Clock
MARKED FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF JULIUS RAPPOPORT, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1908
An Unusually Large Jeweled Carved Nephrite Model of an Elephant
BY FABERGÉ, CIRCA 1900
A silver-gilt and gold-mounted guilloché enamel sunburst clock
MARKED FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1898, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 57929
A JEWELLED GOLD, SILVER-GILT AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL CIGARETTE CASE
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1909, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 19351
AN IMPORTANT SILVER-MOUNTED PORCELAIN IMPERIAL PRESENTATION VASE
BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST. PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF NICHOLAS II, THE SILVER MOUNTS MARKED FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF JULIUS RAPPOPORT, ST. PETERSBURG, 1908
A SILVER-GILT, NEPHRITE AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL TABLE BAROMETER
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT MONUMENTAL GEM-SET PARCEL-GILT SILVER KOVSH
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, CIRCA 1909, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 24682
A JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED KALGAN JASPER MODEL OF AN ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
BY FABERGÉ, CIRCA 1900, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 3218
A JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED SMOKY QUARTZ MODEL OF AN ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
BY FABERGÉ, WITH WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 46351
AN IMPORTANT JEWELLED GOLD AND PLATINUM MOSAIC BROOCH
BY FABERGÉ, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1913, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 97142
A Silver and Cloisonné Enamel Kovsh
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 26141
A RARE GOLD-MOUNTED ENAMEL, NEPHRITE AND ROCK CRYSTAL STUDY OF WILD STRAWBERRIES
BY FABERGÉ, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1900, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 10061
A silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel icon
MARKED FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 28387
A Jewelled Gold and Guilloché Enamel Snuff Box
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, WITH FRENCH IMPORT MARK 1893-1971
A silver Imperial presentation cup and cover
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1893
AN IMPRESSIVE AND RARE JEWELLED AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL TWO-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED SILVER IMPERIAL PRESENTATION SNUFF BOX WITH PORCELAIN PORTRAIT PLAQUE
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER’S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 4744, AND THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, 1909
A SILVER-GILT CLOISONNÉ AND EN PLEIN ENAMEL BOX
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 35702
A RARE AND LARGE SILVER-GILT CLOISONNÉ, GUILLOCHÉ AND EN PLEIN ENAMEL CASKET
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH IMPERIAL WARRANT, OVERSTRIKING THE MARK OF FEODOR RÜCKERT, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 35709
A JEWELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL TABLE COMPASS
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 4366
A LARGE JEWELLED AND ENAMEL GOLD-MOUNTED OBSIDIAN MODEL OF AN ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
ENGRAVED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 52383
A Jewelled Gold-Mounted Guilloché Enamel Cigarette-Case
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 49834
A SILVER-GILT CLOISONNÉ AND EN PLEIN ENAMEL TABLE BOX
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 36829
A Jeweled Gold, Nephrite and Rock Crystal Lily of the Valley Study
BY FABERGÉ, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1900
A Large Silver-Gilt and Guilloché Enamel Photograph Frame
MARKED FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER'S MARK OF VICTOR AARNE, ST. PETERSBURG, 1896-1904, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 7527
A JEWELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL DESK CLOCK
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 8998
A GEM-SET THREE-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL NEPHRITE CIGAR CUTTER
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, 1903-1908, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 16482
A Jeweled and Gold-Mounted Chalcedony Model of a Parrot on a Silver-Gilt and Guilloché Enamel Perch
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MIKHAIL PERCHIN, ST. PETERSBURG, 1896-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 1763
A two-colour gold-mounted guilloché enamel desk clock
MARKED FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST. PETERSBURG, 1896-1908, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 10982
A Jewelled and Gold-Mounted Composite Hardstone Model of a Turkey
BY FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF HENRIK WIGSTRÖM, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917
A Silver and Bowenite Table Lamp in the Form of a Dragon
MARKED FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF JULIUS RAPPOPORT, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1904
A GOLD AND SILVER-MOUNTED AQUAMARINE AND DIAMOND PENDANT BROOCH
BY FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF AUGUST HOLLMING, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 76389
A silver-mounted ceramic vase
MARKED FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, CIRCA 1890, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 6289
A Silver-Gilt Mounted Guilloché Enamel Desk Clock
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1896-1903
A jewelled, enamel and gold vanity-case
MARKED FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER'S INITIALS INDISTINCT, ST. PETERSBURG, 1896-1908
A JEWELLED AND ENAMEL GOLD-MOUNTED JASPER BONBONNIÈRE
BY FABERGÉ, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 53584
A cloisonné and en plein enamelled silver-gilt box
MARKED FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 37970
A JEWELLED THREE-COLOUR GOLD AND MOSS AGATE PHOTOGRAPH FRAME
BY FABERGÉ, MOSCOW, CIRCA 1890, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 14049
A JEWELED GOLD-MOUNTED NEPHRITE PHOTOGRAPH FRAME
MARKED FABERGÉ, MOSCOW, CIRCA 1898, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 13390
A Silver-Gilt and Cloisonné Enamel Punch Set
MARKED K. FABERGÉ WITH THE IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1896-1908