Master goldsmith Gustav Fabergé, a descendant of Huguenot emigrées, founded the House of Fabergé in St. Petersburg in 1842. While the firm is best known for creating the lavishly ornate and intricately devised Imperial Easter eggs given by the last czars to their families as annual holiday gifts, it was the most prestigious Russian luxury goods maker of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fabergé did a brisk trade among the lesser nobility and the merchant class, but it flourished under the guidance of Gustav’s eldest son Peter Carl Fabergé — known also as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé — who took over in 1872.
Serving the aristocracy and the well-to-do through stores in St. Petersburg, Moscow and as far afield as London, Fabergé crafted a wide range of brooches and other jewelry, clock cases, silver and myriad objets de vertu that included picture frames, cigarette cases, cufflinks and carved hardstone floral and animal figurines. Following the revolution, the firm was closed by the Soviet state in 1918.
Cosmopolitan, widely-traveled and himself a master goldsmith — he was sent on a Grand Tour in the 1860s — the younger Fabergé drew early design inspiration when he volunteered to catalogue and restore pieces in the imperial jewelry collection in the Hermitage.
Fabergé pieces based on historical jewelry from the Hermitage caught the attention of Czar Alexander III at a Moscow exhibition in 1882, and three years later he commissioned the first Imperial Easter egg as a gift for the czarina. Czar Nicholas II continued the tradition, presenting two eggs each Easter — one for his wife and one for his mother.
(Relatively simple in design compared to the complex cloisonné-adorned eggs that followed, the first Fabergé egg was a white-enameled ovoid containing a gold “yolk” that held a gold hen, which in turn contained a replica of the imperial crown from which hung an egg-shaped ruby pendant.)
As the appointed goldsmith to the royal court, the House of Fabergé became the darling of Russian aristocrats as well as wealthy patrons across Europe. Many and varied objets — hundreds of thousands by one count — were made to meet their demand. The firm employed some 500 craftsmen and designers when it was shuttered.
After the Russian Revolution, the Fabergé name and trademark endured a checkered passage through the 20th century.
Family members left their homeland in 1918 and set up a new business in Paris that was mainly concerned with repairing and restoring earlier-made wares. The name was adopted by an American fragrance and beauty products maker in the late 1930s, and later authorized by the family in a 1951 agreement. The trademark has been subsequently sold several times, and attached to numerous products including jewelry.
Fabergé pieces are richly redolent of a romantic past, and a source of thorough delight — for connoisseurs, true Fabergé refers to items made in the firm’s brief, golden decades from 1885 to 1917.
Collectors are advised to make a study of Fabergé works in museum collections such as the Victoria & Albert and the Royal Collection in London to gain an understanding of the quality of genuine goods made by the original firm, and then to purchase only from reputable and reliable dealers, such those at 1stDibs.
Find Karl Fabergé objects and vintage jewelry on 1stDibs.
FABERGE Antique Guilloche Enamel Gold Pencil Holder Pendant
By Karl Fabergé
Located in Chicago, IL
Made in Saint Petersburg between 1908 and 1917 This antique Faberge two-tone 14K gold pencil holder pendant features superb royal blue guilloche enamel of exceptional quality. The o...
Gold, Enamel
$26,745Sale Price|20% Off
Faberge Circular Enamel Diamond Set Locket 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Circa 1900.
By Karl Fabergé
Located in London, GB
A Faberge circular enamel diamond set locket in 18 karat yellow gold, circa 1900. A rare, hand crafted yellow gold and platinum locket pendant by Karl Fabergé. Of circular shape, c...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Round Disk Pendant 18k Yellow Gold Turquoise Enamel Guilloche Paillons
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Reference: V1728/TUE/00/00/102 Brand: VICTOR MAYER Collection: Diskos Material: 18k yellow gold with guilloche pattern Vitreous enamel: turquoise with ornamental paillons in the shap...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Round Disk Pendant 18k Yellow Gold - Blue Enamel Guilloche Paillons
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer round pendant with star 18k yellow gold, Diskos Collection, middle blue vitreous enamel with ornamental paillon in the shape of a six-rayed star, diameter app. 15.0 mm ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$4,950
W 0.5 in L 1.4 in
Fabergé Indy 500 Checkered Enamel & Diamond Egg Pendant in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Fabergé
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This authentic Fabergé Indy 500 egg pendant is a striking example of artistry and opulence, blending rich enamel work with fine craftsmanship. The pendant features a checkerboard ena...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Faberge Heritage Rose Gold Diamond & Pink Guilloche Enamel Heart Surprise Locket
By Fabergé
Located in New York, NY
The heritage rose gold diamond and pink guilloche enamel heart surprise locket features pink guilloche enamel and round white diamonds, set in 18 karat rose gold. In keeping with it...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
$4,279
H 1.08 in W 0.83 in D 0.27 in
Fabergé 18k Yellow Gold Oval Blue Enamel Locket Pendant 10 Diamonds total 0, 12c
By Fabergé
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Fabergé 18k Yellow Gold Guilloche Vitreous Enamel Oval Locket from the Parapluie Collection with 10 Diamonds 0.12 ct G IF, Limited Edition 14 of 300, wi...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$7,762 / item
H 0.97 in W 0.6 in
Oval Pendant Locket - 18k Yellow Gold - Turquoise Enamel 3 Diamonds 0.04 ct G VS
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer oval pendant locket 18k yellow gold, emerald turquoise vitreous enamel, 3 diamonds, total 0.04 ct G VS, brilliant cut, measurements app. 24.5 mm x 15.0 mm About the cre...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$3,500
H 0.91 in W 0.6 in L 1.11 in
Antique K. Faberge Passover Egg Pendant Ruby Enamel 56 Gold Silver
Located in SE
K.Faberge Passover Egg pendant made in Imperial Russia between years 1898 - 1917. Length including the hanger : 28mm x 15 mm wide. Body in 14K or Silver finished with Dark Red Enamel and is embellished with well detailed Russian Imperial Eagle Silver heads and old diamond cut Ruby Ø 2.7 mm / ca. 0.08 ct prong set into shield shaped Silver bezel. There is a band stretched around the lower part of the egg and hanger parts modeled in solid Yellow 56/ 14K Gold. Enamel is well preserved with no deep enough damage to see for sure if the egg is made of Gold or Silver. I noticed that this egg has almost double weight to compare with other Russian Passover Silver...
Ruby, 14k Gold, Enamel, Gold, Silver
$6,988 / item
Dm 0.83 in
Round Customizable Pendant Locket 18k Yellow Gold Green Enamel Diameter 21.0 mm
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer round customizable pendant locket 18k yellow gold, emerald green vitreous enamel, diameter app. 21.0 mm About the creator Victor Mayer Victor Mayer is internationally r...
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Fabergé Limited Edition 18K Diamond Red Guilloché Enamel Surprise Egg Pendant
By Fabergé
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite Fabergé by Victor Mayer limited edition 18K yellow gold, diamond and red guilloché enamel surprise egg pendant, beautifully crafted in Germany and featuring a charming m...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Gold Enamel Guilloché Locket Pendant with Rose-Cut Diamonds
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A rare and beautifully preserved 19th-century locket pendant, crafted in 14 karat yellow gold (569/000 standard). The front is adorned with a vivid royal blue guilloché enamel, shimm...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Enamel
$7,033 / item
H 0.79 in W 0.6 in
Oval Victoria Pendant Locket 18k Yellow Gold Blue Enamel 9 Diamonds 0.07 ct G VS
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer oval pendant locket 18k yellow gold, Victoria Collection, peacock blue vitreous enamel, 9 diamonds, total 0.07 ct, G VS, brilliant cut, measurements app. 20.0 mm x 15.0 ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Enamel Locket
Located in Montgomery, AL
Vintage 18k yellow gold with blue enamel locket accented with a delicate rose cut diamond floral motif. A timeless keepsake with classic antique charm. *Missing 2 small rose cut dia...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 15ct Gold Edwardian Guilloche Enamel & Seed Pearl Locket Pendant
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Locket Pendant 15ct Gold Circa 1900 Fabulous, Edwardian round locket pendant. In excellent condition for its age, the pendant is set with a halo of natural seed pearls ...
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Antique Edwardian 14ct Gold Guilloche Enamel & Pearl Necklace Pendant
Located in Portland, England
Stunning Edwardian 14ct gold turquoise blue guilloche enamel and pearl pendant necklace dated from the early 1900's. This beautiful Edwardian necklace features a circular pendant wit...
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
$3,585
Dm 0.99 in L 1.26 in
Antique gold pendant, locket with blue guilloché enamel and a rose-cut diamond
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique pendant, locket with space for a photo of a loved one Crafted of 14-karat yellow gold (0.585 fineness) and decorated with blue guilloché enamel with an additional gold flora...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Faberge Nephrite Jade Egg Pendant 14k Gold
By Karl Fabergé
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 20th Century, Russia Faberge 14k Gold and Nephrite Jade Egg Pendant. Pendant features a white gold leaf motif that is centered with a small round cut ru...
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 14k Gold
FABERGE Rare Multi Color Guilloche Enamel Antique Egg Pendant
By Karl Fabergé
Located in Chicago, IL
This rare original Faberge miniature egg pendant was made in St. Petersburg between 1908 and 1917. The egg is crafted in silver and 14K gold. It features three colors of translucent ...
Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique Russian O.F. Kurlukov Egg Enamel Pendant 56 Gold 14K Silver/3.89gr
By Karl Fabergé
Located in SE
Antique miniature Passover Egg pendant made in Imperial Russia between years 1884 - 1916. Body in Silver finished with fine translucent Guilloche Lavender toned Enamel and mounted on 14K Gold hanger. Guilloché is a decorative technique in jewelry making, when the surface of an object is mechanically engraved with a repetitive pattern. The piece is modeled in 84 0r 88 zolotnik Silver, hanger parts modeled in 56 zolotnik Gold. Bail hallmarked with fragmented Russian Imperial 56...
14k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique Russian K. Faberge Passover Egg Pendant Jade solid 56 /14K Gold / 5.2 gr
By Karl Fabergé
Located in SE
Antique miniature Passover Egg pendant made in Imperial Russia between the years 1898 - 1917. Body carved in natural solid Green Jade stone mounted to "eggshell" and hanger modeled in solid 56/ 14K Orange / Rose toned Gold. Bail hallmarked with Russian Imperial 56...
Jade, 14k Gold
Rare Antique Faberge Chalcedony Miniature Egg Pendant, circa 1890
By Karl Fabergé
Located in Chicago, IL
This stylish Carl Faberge pale bluish-gray chalcedony egg was made in St. Petersburg between 1886 and 1899 by Faberge’s head-workmaster of the period Michael Perkhin. The egg is tastefully embellished with rose-cut diamonds set in silver. The gold suspension loop is marked with 56 Imperial standard (14K), St. Petersburg assay mark, and initials ‘М П ‘ for Michael Perkhin. Height without the suspension ring – 22 mm (13/16 in.) The blue and white enamel Faberge egg...