Peter Carl Faberge
Peter Carl Faberge was born in 1846. His family was originally
from France. His education and goldsmith apprenticeship were in Germany
where he received a thorough training in the jeweler's art. Carl took over
his father's jewelry firm in 1872 at the age of twenty-four. The Faberge
business was much like other similar jewelers of the time. Values of
pieces were determined based on the value of the gold and jewels used to create
them. Faberge worked to transform pieces of jewelry into pieces of art.
Faberge donated his time to work for the Imperial Cabinet which
was in charge of the Czar's treasures in the Hermitage. He performed
appraisals, repairs, and restorations. His association with the Imperial
Cabinet and his restorations of the Czar's treasures earned him recognition.
In 1882, Fabergé was invited to participate in the Moscow Pan-Russian Exhibition.
Faberge received a gold medal in honor of having opened a new era in jewelry
art. The Czar and his wife were impressed enough to purchase the exhibit.
The Czar thought of Faberge before the Easter of 1885, which was also his
twentieth wedding anniversary. Faberge was given an appointment as
"Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty." As a special gift for his wife, the Czar ordered
the jeweler, Carl Fabergé to create the first Imperial Easter Egg for Maria.
Carl Faberge
