JEWELED EGGS
EGGSTRAVAGANZA
The
story of the jeweled
egg started in St.
Petersburg, Russia
in the late 1800's.
In keeping with the
centuries old
Russian tradition of
celebrating Easter
with three kisses
and the gift of an
egg. Czar Alexander
accepted Peter Carl
Faberge’s idea of
creating a jeweled
egg with a surprise
inside for his wife.
The success of this
gift resulted in an
imperial commission
for a Faberge Egg
every year. This
tradition was then
carried on by
Alexander’s son,
Nicholas II, who
presented his wife
and mother with such
eggs until 1917.
Unfortunately, the
Russian Revolution
put an end to Czars
as well as to Peter
Carl Faberge’s work.
At Fox Fine Jewelers
we carry a selection
of miniature Faberge
style eggs designed
by Ilya Abelsky. In
1989 he founded his
own company which
started making
miniature Faberge
style eggs for "the
art of it". Now
Abelsky travels the
country with a mind
boggling collection
of miniature
treasures.
All miniature eggs
are designed and
hand-crafted by "Old
World" Russian
craftsmen. They are
made out of Sterling
Silver with 24K gold
gilt and hand
applied multicolored
enamels on filigree
patterns with
additional
applications of
grain and paint.
Many of the designs
are further accented
with gemstones or
semi-precious stones
such as onyx, lapis,
malachite, amber,
crystal or rose
quartz. Some of the
eggs open and have a
surprise inside.
All eggs can be worn
on a necklace, as
interchangeable
earrings, as a
charm, on a pin, or
even as a terrific
collectable. Start
your own tradition
by giving eggs to
your loved ones as a
symbol of birth,
life and love.
