THE FABERGÉ MUSEUM
ST PETERSBURG
It may have taken 200 years, but the restoration of the Shuvalov Palace, which now houses the Fabergé Museum, was worth the wait and since its official reopening in 2013 it has housed a stunning collection of artwork, driven by the acquisition by Viktor Vekselberg and his Link of Times Cultural-historical Foundation of a Fabergé collection in 2004 from the late Malcolm Forbes. These nine Imperial Easter eggs form the centrepiece of a collection that includes decorative and fine art, from plates and figurines to paintings and sculptures.
All nine of the eggs designed by Carl Gustav Fabergé himself can be traced back to Alexander III and Nicholas II, the last two tsars of Russia. The variety of styles and designs of these eggs is quite stunning, with a mixture of intricate gold work and paintings of figures. The collection includes the First Hen egg, considered to be the originator of the standing order between Alexander III and Fabergé for eggs to be made as gifts for his wife. As such the evolution in complexity and design of the eggs is told through the nine examples on offer as well as their relative place within the design world of late 19th and early 20th century Russia. It’s really not something you want to miss if you’re in St Petersburg.
The Fabergé Museum is open from 10am to 9pm with guided tours ending at 6pm. Tickets start at RUB 450 for unguided tours in morning, afternoon or evening blocks.