Peter Carl Faberge

• Born in St. Petersburg, Russia in May of 1846, Peter Carl Faberge was the son of a jeweler and was to find great success following in his fathers footsteps. At the age of 18, Faberge began the first of what would be many apprenticeships with respected jewelers throughout Europe. Upon his return home, his work began to receive royal attention. After Faberge successfully restored exhibits in the Hermitage museum in 1885, Tsar Alexander the third made him the imperial jeweler for his court.
  
  

First Faberge Egg

• The tradition in Russia at the time, in celebration of Easter, was to give and receive eggs as gifts. In 1885, the Tsar commissioned Faberge to create, as a gift for his wife, an enamel egg. Faberge produced the egg, which was made to look very realistic and it contained a small golden egg inside, which itself held a golden chicken. The Tsar's wife loved the egg and a tradition began of Faberge making an egg every year.
  
  

Tsar Nicholas

• After his father's death, Nicholas II became Tsar and would also have Faberge make eggs. This continued faith in Faberge's art meant that soon other royal families were noticing his work and seeking to have their own pieces commissioned. It must be noted that Faberge is thought not to have made these other eggs himself, but he did design them and supervise his master craftsmen as they made them.