Exploring Peter Carl Fabergé’s world in turn-of-the-century Russia, with its compelling mix of nostalgia and joy, its revelry in Old Russian traditions, crafts, fable and folklore, pagan or Slavic in origin, this poetic contemporary High Jewellery by Fabergé focuses on the well-defined seasons of the year, each with its own celebrations and rituals, an ode to the rhythms of nature that shaped the Russian lifestyle, the leisured luxury of country estates, the glittering splendour of winter balls. The jewels, in true Fabergé style, demonstrate an intuitive interplay of rare coloured precious gems, diamonds and pearls with superlative hand artisanship, to capture and reflect the changing light, colours and atmosphere of each season.
Spring: the long-awaited awakening of the earth, a burst of new light and life, represented by the collection of the first contemporary Fabergé High Jewellery and Fine Jewellery Egg pendants, Les Fameux de Fabergé and Les Frissons de Fabergé. (See separate release).
Summer: Dappled sunlight in summer gardens, the enchantment of White Nights settling over St Petersburg. Delices d’Eté, an effusion of brilliant candy-coloured gems, vivacious and sun-kissed, echoing the strong colours of traditional Russian floral cloisonné work. Dentelle D’Eté, inspired by the exquisite lace, muslins and embroideries of summer gowns, pearl and diamond mosaics centred with blue sapphires, vibrant as a summer sky.
Winter: The sparkling stillness of a long, white Russian winter, the silence of snowdrifts, Troikas and bells, ice palaces, the romance of winter balls. Zhivago, dazzling ice-white compositions of delicate, crisp snowflakes falling softly onto rows of diamonds and pearls. Imperial, glistening snow-covered diamond cupolas, aristocratic crests, the penchant for precious pearls, worn with exquisite white gowns at lavish candlelit winter parties.
Autumn: Mellow warmth, russet, golden tones and lingering shadows. Kokoshnik, the traditional high arched Russian headdress, wrapped around a wide cuff bangle, set with rare Alexandrites, the Russian gem, with its changing depths of green and purple. Sarafan, intense, fiery rubies contrast with diamonds, noble and elegant, to recall the richness of traditional red and white Russian textiles. The charmed world of Les Saisons Russes is inhabited by the lively gem-encrusted dancing, skating female figures of the Lara clip-pendants. Each enchanting figure is dressed in a costume inspired by the richness of traditional embroidered and embellished Russian costumes, set with diamonds, rose diamonds, pearls and coloured stones. The girls dance and skate on wintry lakes, wrapped in gem-covered costumes, hats and mittens, or draped in a shawl of intricately woven light and colour.
