Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia - Tapa dura

...an excellent companion to Faberge's works, one that will be a major resource for decades to come....short summaries of the meanings behind the themes of the famous eggs, as well as a brief, well-written account of the tragic fates of Nicholas and Alexandra....This book will serve as an excellent guide for those lucky enough to see the exhibits of these exquisite, intricate works of art, and as an invaluable resource for anyone researching the eggs or the House of Faberge. * Gems and Gemology * This reference work was a labor of love, undertaken by co-authors who shared a passion and a mission...the authors have been able to unearth a significant amount of new information. Each egg is described in excruciating detail... * Art Documentation * This publication complements McCanless's Faberge and His Works: An Annotated Bibliography of the First Century of His Art (Scarecrow Press, 1994). * Art Libraries Journal * This extensive volume presents the most detailed, technical descriptions available in the existing literature on a total of 66 Faberge eggs, as well as the stories of people involved in their making, and presentation. * Antiques and Collecting * ...superb and decidedly definitive book...The acknowledgement page alone reads like a who's who of Faberge experts and it attests to the authors having definitely done their homework. That they have presented their findings in a most readable and useful fashion deserves commendation. The heart of the books is the encyclopedia, which lists each egg and gives its entire known provenance. Those who have an abiding interest in Faberge's eggs will find this text a must for their library....an exceedingly useful and very complete encyclopedia. * Rock and Gem * The last word on Faberge eggs...the most exhaustive reference book available on the subject. * The Art Newspaper, Year In Review * This single-volume encyclopedia presents the most detailed technical descriptions available on 66 Faberge eggs. It's ideal for future scholars as well as those who simply enjoy the eggs for their beautiful art. The reader will enjoy information about an egg's presentation, debates about particular eggs or details about people involved in their creation. * Huntsville, (Alabama) Times * Will Lowes and Christel McCanless's Faberge Eggs A Retrospective Encyclopedia is an essential addition to the library of any serious Faberge enthusiast. On the subject of the fabled Faberge eggs, they bring together for the first time an enormous quantity of material from numerous sources published and unpublished in a concise and easy to use format. There are many volumes with more beautiful photographs but none with more helpful informative research. -- Christopher Forbes, The Forbes Magazine Collection The authors have conducted a Herculean search for the minutiae of history, exhibitions, bibliographical references and multiple appearances at auction of these eggs, bringing together every scrap of hitherto published material. The second half of the book, also most welcome, is dedicated to short biographies or notes about every single person or firm ever connected, even in the most tenuous manner, to the house of Faberge, including (in addition to the actual family, craftsmen, designers, sculptors, artists and suppliers), the firm's menial staff, down to office boys and secretaries, a total of over 580 in all! -- Dr. Geza von Habsburg, Faberge scholar and exhibition curator The pages contain a well-researched, scholarly compilation of all available and relevant details about the Faberge Eggs. The joint authors of this most valuable encyclopedia are to be congratulated on their dedication and scholarship in converting such a vast amount of hard-to-access facts into such a readable reference. Also the publishers of this encyclopaedia deserve praise for publishing such a fine book. For those gemmologists wishing to increase their knowledge of Faberge, and his eggs, then this is the reference book for you. * The Australian Gemmologist * Authors Will Lowes and Christel Ludewig McCanless present a well-researched single-volume encyclopedia offering historical background and technical descriptions of sixty-five Faberge eggs...This publication would be an excellent addition to the library of a Peter Carl Faberge enthusiast or a student of Faberge history and art. * Rocks and Minerals * The descriptions of the automatons and surprises contained in the delicate Faberge eggs are rich background material for an opportunity to enjoy and study these eggs. * First Draft * An astounding piece of work. The information contained in the background notes will fascinate both academics and amateur egg enthusiasts. * Jewelers' Circular Keystone *

The most complete reference available on Faberge eggs, the Encyclopedia is the only work of its kind. Lavishly illustrated with beautiful four-color photos. - The introductory essay is the first ever to outline the personal relationships between the Russian Imperial Court Jeweler, Peter Carl Faberge (1846-1920), and the two women he served, the Tsarina Alexandra and her mother-in-law, the Dowager Empress Marie. - The second essay traces the Imperial Easter eggs after the fall of the Romanov dynasty. - The main part of the book provides comprehensive information about 66 Faberge eggs, including the names of the work master and his assistants (where known), the marks, materials used, dimensions, technical descriptions, background notes, provenance detail, all known public exhibitions, and extensive reference citations. The citations cover materials in English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, and Finnish, and are arranged by types of publication. - The "Who's Who" section profiles over 500 artisans and companies who worked for, or with, Faberge . It includes work master marks and important new archival material. - Appendix I details 16 Faberge egg auctions. Appendix II (Exhibitions, 1900-1997) describes over 100 Faberge exhibitions worldwide. - A glossary completes the volume. Not just an elegant volume about objets d'art or unequaled majesty, the Encyclopedia is the premier reference work on the subject, compiled by the world's leading experts. Essential for all fine arts and museum libraries; will also be of interest to academic and public libraries, collectors and dealers.