The Era of Fabergé, at Vapriikki 17 June – 1 October 2006

Peter Carl Fabergé was a goldsmith by royal appointment to two Tsars, Alexander III and Nicholas II. Under his artistic guidance, the Fabergé workshop created magnificent household articles and fantasy pieces in the neo-Classical, neo-Rococo and Empire styles.

All of Fabergé’s production is distinguished by its extraordinary goldsmithing, its unexpected combinations of metals and minerals, its deep familiarity with the history of different styles, and its unbounded imagination. The use of transparent enamel, the hallmark of 18th century French goldsmiths, was refined to new heights by Fabergé’s master jewellers.

The workmanship of Fabergé’s fantasy objects, flower arrangements and miniature sculptures astonishes and delights the eye. The same imagination and confident understanding of style can also be seen in other products such as jewellery, confectionary boxes, cigarette cases, pillboxes, vases, picture frames, trays etc. The workshop also produced many household objects in silver: handsome candelabras, dinner services and cutlery. The best-known Fabergé products are, of course, the brilliant Imperial Easter eggs.

Through the family relationships of the Russian court, Fabergé’s elegant articles made their way to other European palaces. Soon, the workshop’s customers included many Russian and Western European aristocrats as well as wealthy industrialists from as far away as North America.

Fabergé was also a skilled businessman who was quick to sense changes in fashion and taste. Under his leadership, the small goldsmith’s shop expanded into one of the largest local companies of its time, with more than 500 employees at its peak.

A number of Finnish master goldsmiths worked at Fabergé. Among those represented in the exhibition are Henrik Wigström, August Hollming, Oskar and Alma Pihl, Erik Kollin, August Holmström, Stefan Wäkewä, Johan Viktor Aarne, Antti Nevalainen and Gabriel Niukkanen. Fabergé’s contemporaries are represented in the exhibition by C. E. Bolin, Carl Blank, A. Tillander and P. A. Ovtshinnikov, among others. The exhibition presents a well-defined picture of imperial St. Petersburg at the turn of the century, its tastes, fashions and the important position of Finns in the city of the Emperors.

The objects in the exhibition come from the collections of the Kremlin as well as private collections in Finland, and include jewellery, gifts from the Tsars, as well as fantasy and practical objects. The exhibition’s crowning glory is its two Imperial Easter eggs.

Vapriikki is publishing an extensive and informative catalogue of the exhibition. The Vapriikki museum shop, Vinssi, will offer visitors a selection of high–quality Era of Fabergé products and the museum restaurant Valssi will serve delicacies in the spirit of Fabergé.

World-renowned Fabergé expert Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm is adviser to the exhibition. The patron of the exhibition is Speaker of Parliament, Paavo Lipponen.

Honorary Committee for The Era of Fabergé

Jarmo Rantanen, Mayor of Tampere
Jelena Gagarina, Director of the Moscow Kremlin Museum
Madame Tatiana Fabergé
Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm, Fabergé expert
Kari Neilimo, Chairman and CEO, SOK Corporation
Juha Ruotsalainen, President and CEO, Aamulehti

Admission

9 € Adults, 4 € Children (7-16) and students, 22 € Family ticket (2 adults, 2-4 children), 8 € Groups (min. 10 persons), pensioners, unemployed, 25 € Season ticket.

The entrance fee includes admission to the other exhibitions at Vapriikki:
Covers – cover art
Culture in Cloth – textile traditions in South East Asia
National Fates – Finno-Ugrians’ past and present
Pirkanmaa – a journey into the history of the province
The Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame
The Shoe Museum