THE next art film to screen at Cinema Nouveau looks at the story behind one of the most prestigious names in luxury brands, Fabergé.
The award-winning documentary charts the rich history behind the brand and offers the chance to experience exquisite Fabergé pieces in intricate detail on the big screen.
Fabergé – A Life of its Own is a 90-minute documentary shot across Russia, Europe and the US and includes images of the collection belonging to Queen Elizabeth II. Interviews include contributions from the world’s foremost Fabergé authorities and memories from Fabergé family members.
The allure of Fabergé’s infamous Imperial Eggs lies as much in their fabled history as it does the precious objets they house. Created by Peter Carl Fabergé, court jeweller of St Petersburg, for the Russian Imperial family between 1885 and 1916, the precious eggs were seized during the Russian Revolution and later sold or destroyed. Of the 50 known Imperial Eggs, seven remain lost – with 43 in private, royal or museum collections.
During the film, two historic pieces are also unveiled: the first Imperial Class Fabergé Egg to be produced in almost a century, the Pearl Egg was commissioned to mark 100 years since the production of the last Imperial Egg for Tsar Nicolas II. The objet d’art features more than 3 000 diamonds and natural pearls.
Then there is the remarkable story of the long-lost 1887 Imperial Egg, which was one of 50 created for the Russian royal family. Measuring 8.2cm, it was given by Tsar Alexander III to the tsarina for Easter 1887 and was last seen in public in March, 1902 as part of an exhibition of Imperial treasures in St Petersberg. The Imperial Egg was rediscovered last year by a scrap metal dealer and sold to a private collector for a reported $30 million.
The film follows the story of Fabergé from Imperial Russia to the present, spanning 150 years of turbulent history, romance and artistic development.
Film Writer
l Fabergé – A Life of its Own screens at Cinema Nouveau in Joburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban on Sat, Wed and Thurs at 7.30pm and Sun at 2.30pm.