OBJET! NEWS: FABERGÉ MALAIKA EGG.

THE FABERGÉ LEGACY:

FROM THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING NÉCESSAIRE TO THE MALAIKA EGG.

Welcome, to another edition of "The Curio Aesthete," where we indulge in the exquisite world of objets d'Art, de Vertu & de Curiosité and unravel their captivating mysteries. We're about to embark on a journey through the most exquisite objets d'art, where mystery and magnificence collide in the most delicious way.

In this weeks Objet! News, we're thrilled to spotlight the dazzling Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg, unveiled in July 2024 - a masterpiece that marries contemporary artistry with ethical gemstone sourcing. As we marvel at this modern treasure, we'll also briefly touch on an enduring enigma from Fabergé's past - the Missing Nécessaire egg. This elusive objet de vertu has long tantalized collectors and historians alike. Join us as we explore the drama surrounding its disappearance, connecting the dots between Fabergé's illustrious history and its continued innovation in the world of luxury artistry.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IMPERIAL EGG

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FABERGE STYLE

Image Source: Fabergé Eggs - Historic Easter Egg Tradition

The Fabergé style emerged in the late 19th century as a unique blend of European and Russian artistic traditions. Peter Carl Fabergé, inspired by his travels in Western Europe between 1860-1870, transformed neo-Gothic, Renaissance and Louis XV styles into his own distinctive aesthetic.

Unlike the forms prevalent in the West at the time, Fabergé's work was considered to be elegant, understated and usually in miniature formats. His objects, including the famous Imperial Easter eggs, were typically small but exquisitely crafted.

The Imperial Easter egg tradition began in 1885 when Tsar Alexander III commissioned Fabergé to create an egg for his wife. Impressed with the result, the Tsar ordered an egg to be made each year thereafter. This tradition continued under Nicholas II, who gave eggs to both his mother and wife annually.

Fabergé's Imperial Easter eggs were inspired by earlier European royal traditions but surpassed them in artistry and innovation. Each egg was a unique masterpiece containing an intricate surprise. Between 1885 and 1916, 50 Imperial eggs were crafted.

Today, 43 of these eggs are known to exist, with some in museums and private collections worldwide.The British Royal Family owns three of these creations. Seven eggs remain unaccounted for, with only two confirmed to have survived the Russian Revolution.

Beyond the Imperial eggs, Fabergé produced numerous other egg-themed objects and jewelry, including pendants, spirit burners, bonbonnières, and seals. His work exemplified the finest craftsmanship of the era, blending Russian and Western influences into a distinctive style that continues to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts.

FABERGÉ X GEMFIELDS MALAIKA EGG

In July 2024, Fabergé unveiled the exquisite Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg, a one-of-a-kind creation that marries exceptional craftsmanship with a noble cause. This collaboration with Gemfields, a leading responsible miner and marketer of colored gemstones, celebrates the birthstone of July, the ruby, and aims to support community projects in Mozambique with a $100,000 donation from its sale to the Gemfields Foundation.

Image Source: Fabergé.com

'Malaika,' meaning 'angel' in Swahili, reflects the egg's Mozambican roots, where the rubies were responsibly mined at the Montepuez ruby mine, majority-owned by Gemfields. The egg features 308 fiery, deep red rubies set in 18k rose gold, alongside 4,312 round brilliant-cut white diamonds, 252 round brilliant-cut brown diamonds, 421 round pink sapphires, and 61 amethysts. This intricate design pays homage to Peter Carl Fabergé's legacy of using rose gold in his elaborate creations.

True to Fabergé's tradition, the Malaika Egg houses a hidden surprise. Turning the pearl ring at the base anti-clockwise, five 'wings' open to reveal the surprise inside —- a five-carat ruby, nestled in rose gold filigree, like a secret whispered in a grand ballroom. This gemstone can be removed and set into bespoke jewelry, adding a personal touch to this masterpiece.

The Malaika Egg not only showcases Fabergé's artistic flair but also embodies a charitable spirit. The $100,000 donation to the Gemfields Foundation will fund projects aimed at alleviating poverty in Mozambique, reflecting Fabergé's commitment to ensuring that every gem benefits its place of origin.

Video Source: Fabergé.com

You can check out the behind the scenes videos here

OBJET! MYSTERIES

The gorgeous Malaika Egg, seen above, not only represents Fabergé's continued innovation but also serves as a reminder of the brand's rich history, including one of its most intriguing mysteries - the missing Nécessaire Egg.

The Nécessaire Egg, created in 1889 for Tsar Alexander III, remains one of the great enigmas in the world of decorative arts. Last seen in London in '52, it vanished like a puff of cigarette smoke after it was sold to an unidentified buyer for £1,250. One moment it was there, flaunting its diamond-encrusted manicure set, and the next - Gone with the wind. This beautiful work of art, worth a staggering $30 Million today, was sold by Wartski in 1952 for £1,250 (equivalent to £36,000 today) to an unidentified buyer listed only as "Stranger" in the firm's ledger. Its whereabouts remained unknown for decades, with no clear photograph available for identification.

Kieran McCarthy, a Wartski director, explained that in 1952, the egg's imperial status was unknown due to the Cold War's information blackout. Only after Glasnost (a late-19th century Russian term commonly used to refer to "openness particularly in politics and the legal system) did details about these treasures emerge from Russia. The egg's history includes evacuation to Moscow's Kremlin armory in 1917 as German forces approached St. Petersburg. Later, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sold it as part of his "Treasures into Tractors" initiative.

While the Malaika Egg represents Fabergé's future, the missing Nécessaire Egg connects us to its past. The Nécessaire (read all about the history of the Nécessaire here) was known to contain a 13-piece diamond-encrusted gold manicure set, demonstrating the same level of intricate craftsmanship seen in the Malaika's hidden ruby surprise. The 1889 Nécessaire egg likely contained 13 miniature toiletry implements, an impressive feat given its small size. This design was not unprecedented, as similarly compact French nécessaire eggs also managed to incorporate numerous beauty tools. The egg's ability to house multiple items in a limited space demonstrates the exceptional craftsmanship and ingenuity of Fabergé's work.

Richly set with diamonds, rubies, and a sapphire, the Necessaire was one of only two Imperial Faberge eggs known to have survived the Russian Revolution, but whose whereabouts are unknown. Experts have been on its trail for years. It was one of 50 glittering jeweled Easter eggs created by imperial goldsmith Peter Carl Faberge from 1885 to 1917 for Russian Tsar Alexander III – as gifts for his wife, Empress Maria Fedorovna – and his son Tsar Nicholas II. Wartski of Mayfair acquired the Necessaire but was unaware of its imperial provenance before it was sold to the “stranger”.

They photographed and described it as "A fine gold egg, richly set with diamonds, cabochon rubies, emeralds, a large colored diamond at the top and a cabochon sapphire at point," without recognizing its true significance. Recent discoveries have reignited interest in the lost Nécessaire. A clearer image of the egg emerged in 2014, sparking hope that it might one day be found. This tantalizing clue serves as a bridge between Fabergé's history of craftsmanship that leads us straight to its modern creations like the Malaika Egg. As Fabergé continues to create new marvels, the mystery of the Nécessaire Egg reminds us of the brand's enduring allure. The Malaika Egg, with its ethical sourcing and charitable donation, represents a new chapter in Fabergé's story that honors its past while embracing a responsible future.