From Tsar, With Love

The first Easter egg made by the House of Faberge in the mid 19th century was crafted in gold and decorated with opaque white enamel.

Magnificent creations by the House of Faberge, jewellers to the Tsars, are on display for the first time in India

The first Easter egg made by the House of Faberge in the mid 19th century was crafted in gold and decorated with opaque white enamel. Inside lay a surprise 8212; a coloured, gold hen containing a miniature replica of the imperial Russian crown and ruby pendant eggs. The tradition of creating intricately bejewelled eggs on fine porcelain lies largely with Faberge, and some of their most exquisite and interesting pieces are on display at Delhi8217;s National Museum to commemorate the year-long Festival of Russia in India.

The 200-odd pieces on display, all created between 1846 and 1920, provide a rare, fascinating glimpse into the lives of Russian aristocracy and a phase of its turbulent history, right before the revolution. Sourced from private museums in Russia, government archives and private collections, it is well represented, with artifacts like jade pens encrusted with rubies, intricately enamelled opera glasses and jade cigarette cases, combined with a variety of delicate jewellery and porcelain bowls. 8220;We were almost scared to ask for it. The Faberge collection has some of the finest jewellery in the world,8221; says Pavan K Varma of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations ICCRwho collaborated closely with Sysoenko Alexander of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, to make this happen. 8220;It took me two months to put it together,8221; says Alexander, the acting curator of the show.

Easter has particular significance in Russian Orthodox faith, and most imperial commissions to Faberge mark important political events in the Russian calendar. One of the eggs displayed in the collection is the 1897 Easter Egg that Tsar Nicholas II presented to Alexandra Fyodorovna to commemorate their coronation. The surprise inside was a miniature carriage, embossed in silver and glittering with a meshwork of diamonds. Other noteworthy pieces include the Bay Tree Egg with a clockwork singing bird, and white enamel blossoms. 8220;Faberge was the ultimate status symbol for a section of elitist society in Russia and Europe. But, then, all jewellery is elitist,8221; smiled Karan Singh, president of the ICCR. February marks the beginning of the India Festival in Russia. 8220;It would be great if we could show them the Nizam8217;s jewellery, but the government doesn8217;t permit it,8221; says Varma.