Fabergé reaffirms royal ties through Canadian exhibit

Russian jeweler Fabergé's connection to royalty is the subject of an exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada.

“Fabulous Fabergé, Jeweler to the Czars” will show off 240 objects from the house, including four eggs commissioned by the Romanovs. This is the first Fabergé exhibit ever in Canada, which will educate a new audience on the brand’s history.

Royal relations
The pieces on display are on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA, which boasts the largest Fabergé collection outside of Russia.

Fabergé rose in prominence as a house largely due to the czar lifestyle and was associated with the last of the imperial rulers in Russia.

Miniature paintings in an opened Fabergé pink gold Easter egg

The exhibit centers on house founder Carl Fabergé’s work for the czars, including its craftsmanship and the jeweler’s popularity with the demanding audience.

One gallery highlights the Easter egg tradition among the royal family, while another showcases the jeweler’s creations featuring imagery of the rulers. Another details the process behind making Fabergé pieces, using imitators’ objects to show the difference and competition among the different luxury houses.

Fabergé egg and surprise inside

The fourth space is dedicated to the place Fabergé played in the daily lives of the royal family.

To coincide with the exhibit, the museum, along with French magazine L’Objet d’art, has created a special edition of its publication that is available for sale in both English and French. This includes images of the important works in the collection and an interview with Dr. Géza Von Habsburg, Fabergé’s curatorial director.

The exhibit opened June 14, and will run through Oct. 5.