T
he House of
Fabergé are
historically
known for
m a k i n g
jewelled
eggs
that were
popular gifts for
Easter in the
late 19th and early
20
th century. Tsar Nicholas II of the
Russian Imperial Court commissioned
Fabergé to create an Imperial Easter Egg
for his wife, the Empress Alexandra
Fedorovna every year during
his reign. The specially crafted
eggs coated in fine gold were
elaborate in design and
details that drew inspiration
from life at the Imperial
Court, thus bearing the
emblems of the Romanov
Dynasty, Russian Imperial
Court and other cultural
influences.
Rich in heritage and
pleasing to the eye, the
jewelled eggs have attracted
interest from celebrities
and royalty past and present,
including Richard Burton who
bought a Fabergé moonstone egg
for his wife, Elizabeth Taylor during
their marriage. It was this particular egg
that captured the imagination of designer
Olivier Rousteing and inspired his AW12
collection for Balmain. The collection
features boxy leather jackets and couture
‘
sweatshirts’ topped with matelassé-
inspired embroideries dense with pearl,
crystal and gold beading, a powder pink
tuxedo suit topped with delicate pearl and
crystal quilting and devoré velvet pants
and tops, and long, languid skirts decorated
with Fabergé-inspired motifs.Other fashion
houses inspired by Fabergé’s prestigious
and treasured designs include Salvatore
Ferragamo, whose creative director
Massimiliano Giornetti created petite
minaudières rich with gilt embroideries
echoing the decoration of the famed eggs
and Mary Katrantzou who has drawn
on their symbolism in past collections,
reproducing the luxurious masterpieces in
her highly ornate digital prints.
Under the leadership of creative and
managing director Katharina Flohr, Fabergé
has introduced a compendium of the most
lustrous and sought-after egg pendants and
charms for its AW12 collection. Many of
its uniquely crafted pendants compliment
the inspired Balmain collection and those
of other large and established fashion
houses. The L’Oeuf aux Roses couture
egg pendant decorated with delicate pink
enamelled roses reflects the darkly floral
and romantic looks found on the Balmain
Fabergé
FROMTHE COURTS OFTHE RUSSIAN
IMPERIAL TO THE CATWALKS OF
THE WORLD’S FASHION
CAPITALS,
SIMRANGILL
UNCOVERSTHE HISTORY
OF FABERGÉ AND THE IN-
TRICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP BE-
HIND ITS ENIGMATIC
JEWELLEDOBJETS D’ART.
IN FASHION
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jewellery