"QUANTUM SHOT" #380
link
Nestled Wonders (with an Easter Egg Surprise)
Peter Carl Faberge and his workshop made incredibly intricate Easter eggs for the Russian Imperial Court between 1885 and 1917.
These rare and unique creations had the cover of enameled gold and gem stones, which would open to reveal hidden wonders - sometimes golden yolk, sometimes a delicately sculpted figure, all nestled in many levels like a traditional Russian matryoshka doll. As only fitting for Easter Eggs, each one contained a surprise! (could it be that software's easter egg surprises have their origin at the Russian court?)
Here is a list of every known Faberge egg in existence (only 61 have survived), each design uniquely different (see some of them also here). The advent of Bolshevik's Revolution has put a stop to the Russian Empire's production of jeweled eggs... among other things.
Some eggs had an exquisite clock built-in, some were accompanied by even more delicate gold & gemstones figures, like royal carriage models or bouquet of jewelled flowers. Most had a mechanism of some kind, so it's even more fascinating to see them in action - a true wonder of miniaturization.
"There were eggs to commemorate the coronation of Czar Nicholas II, the completion of the Trans Siberian Railway, and anniversaries. There were eggs depicting the Imperial yacht-Standart, the Uspensky Cathedral, the Gatchina Palace, and during the time of war, the Red Cross and the military."
To get a feel for the prices commanded by prime Faberge examples, this particular egg is known to have been auctioned at $18 million dollars. It is an unrecorded egg, which makes it even more astonishing. (more info) -
(image credit: Robert Catalano)
Note the level of miniaturization in this example: Gatchina Palace Egg, 1901:
(image credit: Mary Harrsch)
The Regis Galerie inside the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas boasts a few Faberge Eggs on display:
(image credit: tsaiware)
Also see this fine flickr set for additional egg pictures.
Some jewelry that accompanied the eggs was also worth mentioning:
Even today the style and workmanship of Russian Imperial Court jewelers continue to inspire artists and architects: see for example The Grand Lisboa structure in Macau, China -
(image credit: James A)
Sources: The Faberge Experience, Russian Gifts
Permanent Link......+StumbleUpon ...+Facebook
Category: Art,Vintage
Related Posts:
Exquisite Eggshell Carving
Fantastic Gemstones
Dark Roasted Blend's Photography Gear Picks:
Check out this stream
Blog Archive
-
▼
2008
(968)
-
▼
February
(76)
- Russian Imperial Faberge Eggs
- Russian Imperial Faberge Eggs
- The Strangest Car Chase
- The Strangest Car Chase
- Most Elegant Proposed Skyscrapers
- Most Elegant Proposed Skyscrapers
- Good Morning, Dear!
- Good Morning, Dear!
- Gas Mask Fashion, Part 2
- Gas Mask Fashion, Part 2
- Absolut Music Sculpture
- Absolut Music Sculpture
- Discovering Iran, Part 2
- Discovering Iran, Part 2
- Link Latte 49
- Link Latte 49
- Abandoned Places & Urban Exploring
- Abandoned Places & Urban Exploring
- "Most Dangerous Roads in the World" Series
- "Most Dangerous Roads in the World" Series
- Coolest Retro Devices
- Coolest Retro Devices
- Big Ship vs. Low Bridge
- Big Ship vs. Low Bridge
- Moments in Sports, Part 6
- Moments in Sports, Part 6
- Dakar Truck Rally
- Dakar Truck Rally
- Nightmare Playgrounds
- Nightmare Playgrounds
- Fantastic Street Football
- Fantastic Street Football
- The New Motor, or the Steam-Powered Messiah
- The New Motor, or the Steam-Powered Messiah
- Link Latte 48
- Link Latte 48
- Oops! Weirdest Accidents, Part 3
- Oops! Weirdest Accidents, Part 3
- Japanese Super-Rabbits
- Japanese Super-Rabbits
- Huge Off-Highway Road Trains
- Huge Off-Highway Road Trains
- Having a Ball
- Having a Ball
- Barbarella & Other Ladies in Space
- Barbarella & Other Ladies in Space
- Ford Focus Orchestra
- Ford Focus Orchestra
- Weird Signs, Part 9
- Weird Signs, Part 9
- Link Latte 47
- Link Latte 47
- Fallen Cranes & Other Troubled Machinery
- Fallen Cranes & Other Troubled Machinery
- Urban Mad Hockey
- Urban Mad Hockey
- World's Most Curious Ephemera
- World's Most Curious Ephemera
- Chicken Pool
- Chicken Pool
- The Plain of Jars: Bombs & Mystery in Laos
- The Plain of Jars: Bombs & Mystery in Laos
- Unexplained NASA Incident
- Unexplained NASA Incident
- Overwhelmed at Work
- Overwhelmed at Work
- Link Latte 46
- Link Latte 46
- Robots in Arts
- Robots in Arts
- Archive: January 2008
- Archive: January 2008
- Bacteria's Sinister Division
- Bacteria's Sinister Division
- Miniature Spy Guns
- Miniature Spy Guns
-
▼
February
(76)
0 comments:
Post a Comment