Collection of the workshop units by the famous jeweler Carl Faberge in Tsarskoye Selo was supplemented with an ashtray produced during the First world war (1914-1918). Museum’s purchase was made at the Paris auction of Oliver Coutau Begarie, which also sells Russian art collections of the princes Yusupov, Shahovskoy and Demidov. This was reported in the official press release GMZ “Tsarskoe Selo”.
Hereditary jeweler, appraiser of Hermitage and supplier of jewelry to the Royal court Carl Faberge (1846-1920) came from a family of French Huguenots. In 1872 he became head of the family’s jewelry house and started its glory. In 1885 Faberge’s firm began to produce Easter eggs, which made it famous all over the world. In addition to the Easter eggs the company produced gold, silver ornaments, utensils, etc. All these were items of the highest craftsmanship. During the First world war Faberge also produced premium military products (ashtrays, cigarette cases, coasters with the Imperial symbols) and mass consumption units on the front mugs, pots, pans, samovars, kettles, stoves, basins, sinks at the Moscow mechanical plant. After 1917 the firm stopped activities in Russia.
Tsarskoye Selo acquired copper ashtray with the Russian Imperial emblem and the inscription “War 1914”. It will be the first “war” subject of Faberge in the collection of the Museum. “Tsarskoe Selo”, by the way, has not only historical Fabergé units, but also due to contacts with the descendants of the famous Houses who continues the production of jewelry gets units of Easter eggs especially created for the Museum as gifts.
Sources:
Tsarselo, Coutaubegarie, Faberge.ch
