When in St. Petersburg, take the chance to marvel at the world's largest collection of Fabergé eggs, nestled in the lavish 18th century Shuvalov Palace since 2013. Those 9 in the collection were commissioned by the last Russian emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II.
At the time European society considered Russia unparalleled in silver and gold decorative arts. Regarded not only as the finest jeweled works of art, they are also unique historical artifacts
Showcasing national heritage
Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg came from the idea of returning Russian culturally significant artifacts and artworks for public display to Russia.
Founded by Viktor Vekselberg in 2004, the Link of Times wanted to create a series of museums in Russia dedicated to the works of the great jeweler Carl Fabergé. The same year, the nine Fabergé eggs which form the core of the collection were purchased by him from American entrepreneur Malcolm Forbes in 2004 at a cost of $100 million. Since then, the foundation has been collecting Russian works of decorative and fine art and has amassed more than 4,000 items. In terms of its size, diversity, and the quality of its pieces, many of which belonged to the royal family and other members of the royal courts of Europe.
The exclusivity of the Fabergé collection acquired by the Link of Times foundation also comes from the fact that this collection represents all the areas the House of Faberge specialized in: objects of fantasy of all kinds, jewelry, small goods, silverware, and interior and religious objects.
In addition to works by Fabergé, the collection also includes decorative and applied works made by the Russian masters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as famous Russian jewelers and silversmiths Sazikov, Ovchinnikov, Khlebnikov, Rückert and many others.
Shuvalov Palace, one of St. Petersburg's gems
In 2006, the Link of Times foundation began restoring the Shuvalov Palace, located on the embankment of the Fontanka River.
It took over 7 years to restore the splendor of the imperial past and to turn it into a museum. At one point 300 specialist workers were involved in the project. Today, the Shuvalov Palace, with an area of about 4,700 square meters, is again one of the most beautiful palaces in St. Petersburg, a historical monument, and tourist attraction. Feel the opulence and artistry of the time in 12 beautifully restored rooms displaying over 4,000 items. It beautifully links imperial history to both St. Petersburg and Russia.
The Fabergé eggs
Enter the Blue Room, at the center of the Shuvalov Palace, and admire 15 Imperial Easter Eggs by Fabergé. Each one is a unique masterpiece. Don't miss the first egg that Fabergé created for Tsar Alexander III in 1885: an Easter gift for his wife Tsarina Maria Fedorovna. Known as the Hen Egg, the first Fabergé egg is cocooned inside a white enamel shell which – much like a Matryoshka doll, opens to reveal a series of surprises.
