The Faberge collection is one of my favorites at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It has been a part of the permanent exhibit since it was bequeathed to the museum by Lillian Thomas Pratt upon her death in 1947 (with additional pieces donated by others throughout the years).The history of Russia's Romanov family intrigued me when I was young, and the tragedy of revolution and massacre of the entire royal family caused me to research and read historical accounts about the events and the people.
Part of the history of the Romanovs was the Faberge eggs they had specially made for one another as gifts.
Located in St. Petersburg and Moscow, the Faberge company was known worldwide from the early 1880s until 1917 when they closed after Russia's October Revolution. They were commissioned by the royal family to craft Easter eggs, each with a different scene or surprise inside. Their craftsmanship, beauty, and detail are to be enjoyed as they take us back to a long ago time in a far away land.
Five of those eggs are at the Virginia Museum along with many other Faberge creations. It is free to the public and can be seen on the same visit to view the Eugene Boudin collection that is on loan until January 27, 2008.
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