Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution at V&A Museum

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Sat 20 Nov 2021 - Sun 08 May 2022

The largest collection of Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs in a generation are on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum(V&A) with many items loaned by the Queen and British Royal family.



Fabergé in London : Romance to Revolution runs from November 20 until May 8, 2022 and focuses on the master Russian goldsmith's London branch

Featuring a finale of 15 of the famous Carl Fabergé Easter Eggs designed for Russian Tzar Nicolas II, it is the first time in over 50 years that they are shown together in the UK.

The exhibition highlights other beautifully delicate items from cigarette cases to diamond tiaras, ornaments and jewellery as visitors see the relationship Fabergé had with the Royal families in Britain and Russia, plus other high society clients at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Most fascinating is how Fabergé moved on to make grenades when the First World War and Russian Revolution came along.



Curator Kieran Mccarthy said this exhibition was a "study of whimsy and beauty" with artefacts that are "suggestions of love and ambition and an examination of life". "Some objects haven't been seen for 50 plus years. The Imperial Easter eggs are the ultimate finale and by time you get there, we want everyone to understand the craftsmanship and zeitgeist that Fabergé went through to design these."


He added that Fabergé could only have existed at one time due to the special patronage he received that allowed his creativity to flourish but also due to the desire and culture that permeated in London at that time.

That relationship between Faberge and patrons are shown through this wonderfully detailed exhibition with plenty of items to see, stories behind the pieces and the background of the Russian Revolution and First World War.

Ultimately, the finale of the 15 eggs is awe-inspiring and highlights how much effort and talent went into making such different pieces.

The collection on display includes several that have never before been shown in the UK including the largest Imperial Egg – the Moscow Kremlin Egg – inspired by the architecture of the Dormition Cathedral, on loan from the Moscow Kremlin Museums.



The Alexander Palace Egg, featuring watercolour portraits of the children of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra – and containing a surprise model of the palace inside – also takes centre stage alongside the Tercentenary Egg, created to celebrate 300 years of the Romanov dynasty, only a few years before the dynasty crumbled.

Other eggs that feature include the recently rediscovered Third Imperial Egg of 1887, found by a scrap dealer in 2011 – one of the 'missing' eggs created by Fabergé that was lost for many years.



The Peacock Egg of 1907-8, shown on public display for the first time in over a decade, containing a surprise of an enamelled gold peacock automaton and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's Basket of Flowers Egg, lent by Her Majesty The Queen from the Royal Collection will also be on display.

This is a memorable and beautiful exhibition that will remain with you long after you leave the museum.

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!date 20/11/2021 -- 08/05/2022
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