Controversy Erupts Over Alleged Fake Fabergé Egg in Hermitage Exhibition
Between 1885 and 1917, the Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs were crafted for the Russian royal family, starting with a commission from Emperor Alexander III for his spouse, Maria Feodorovna. His successor, Tsar Nicholas II, upheld this custom by ordering two eggs each year until 1917, though no eggs were produced in 1904 and 1905 due to the Russo-Japanese War. A notable collection of Fabergé pieces, including the Rothschild egg purchased for £8.9 million in 2007, belongs to Russian entrepreneur Alexander Ivanov and serves as the foundation for the Fabergé Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany. In late 2020, the State Hermitage Museum presented "Fabergé, Jeweller to the Imperial Court," where art dealer Andre Ruzhnikov claimed the exhibition featured forgeries, especially the "1904 Anniversary Easter Egg."
Key facts
- The first Fabergé Imperial Easter Egg was commissioned by Emperor Alexander III for his wife Maria Feodorovna in 1885.
- Tsar Nicholas II ordered two eggs each year, one for his mother and one for his wife, from 1895 to 1917.
- No eggs were made in 1904 and 1905 due to the Russo-Japanese War.
- Alexander Ivanov acquired the Rothschild egg in 2007 for £8.9 million.
- The Fabergé Museum in Baden-Baden houses the bulk of Ivanov's collection.
- The State Hermitage Museum hosted the exhibition 'Fabergé, Jeweller to the Imperial Court' from November 2020 to March 2021.
- Andre Ruzhnikov claimed that multiple objects in the exhibition were fakes, including the '1904 Anniversary Easter Egg'.
- Around 50 Imperial Easter Eggs with confirmed provenance are known to exist.
- The Hen Egg (1885) contained a gold yolk, a gold hen, and a lost ruby pendant egg.
- The Bay-Tree Egg (1911) featured a singing bird automaton and was made of 325 nephrite leaves, 110 enamel flowers, and numerous gems.
Entities
Artists
- Alexander III
- Maria Feodorovna
- Nicholas II
- Alexandra Feodorovna
- Alexander Ivanov
- Andre Ruzhnikov
- Emanuel Nobel
- Alfred Nobel
Institutions
- House of Fabergé
- Fabergé Museum
- State Hermitage Museum
- Rothschild family
Locations
- Baden-Baden
- Germany
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
- Japan