Book Description
History.
Author : Toby Faber
Publisher : Pan Macmillan
Page : 356 pages
File Size : 19,93 MB
Release : 2009
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN : 9780330440240
History.
Author : Toby Faber
Publisher : Random House
Page : 337 pages
File Size : 40,82 MB
Release : 2008-10-07
Category : History
ISBN : 158836707X
In Stradivari’s Genius, Toby Faber charted the fascinating course of some of the world’s most prized musical instruments. Now, in this enthralling new book, he tells the story of objects that are, to many, the pinnacle of the jeweler’s art: the Fabergé imperial eggs. The Easter presents that Russia’s last two czars gave to their czarinas have become synonymous with privilege, beauty, and an almost provocative uselessness. They are perhaps the most redolent symbols of the old empire’s phenomenal craftsmanship, of the decadence of its court, and of the upheavals that brought about its inevitable downfall. Fabergé’s Eggs is the first book to recount the remarkable story of these masterpieces, taking us from the circumstances that inspired each egg’s design, through their disappearance in the trauma of revolution, to their eventual reemergence in the global marketplace. In 1885, Carl Fabergé created a seemingly plain white egg for Czar Alexander III to give to his beloved wife, Marie Fedorovna. It was the surprises hidden inside that made it special: a diamond miniature of the Imperial crown and a ruby pendant. This gift began a tradition that would last for more than three decades: lavishly extravagant eggs commemorating public events that, in retrospect, seem little more than staging posts on the march to revolution. Above all, the eggs illustrate the attitudes that would ultimately lead to the downfall of the Romanovs: their apparent indifference to the poverty that choked their country, their preference for style over substance, and, during the reign of Nicholas II, their all-consuming concern with the health of the czarevitch Alexis, the sickly heir to the throne–a preoccupation that would propel them toward Rasputin and the doom of the dynasty. More than a superb new account of a classic tragedy, Fabergé’s Eggs illuminates some fascinating aspects of twentieth-century history. The eggs’ amazing journey from revolutionary Russia features a cast of characters including embattled Bolsheviks, acquisitive British royals, eccentric artifact salesmen, and such famous business and society figures as Arm and Hammer, Marjorie Merriweather Post, and Malcolm Forbes. Finally, Toby Faber tantalizingly suggests that some of the eggs long thought lost may eventually emerge. Darting from the palaces of a besieged Russia to the showcases of New York’s modern mega-wealthy, Fabergé’s Eggs weaves a story unparalleled in its drama and extravagance. Praise for Stradivari’s Genius “Fascinating . . . lively . . . more enthralling, earthy and illuminating than any fiction could be.” –The New York Times Book Review “A celebration of six instruments and the master craftsman who made them . . . [Faber] brings to the subject an infectious fascination with Stradivari’s life and trade. . . . He writes with clarity and fluency.” –Chicago Tribune “An extraordinary accomplishment and a compelling read. Like strange totems that cast an irresistible spell, these instruments bring out the best and the worst of those who would own them, and Faber deftly tells the stories in all their rich and surprising detail.” –Thad Carhart, author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank “A worthy contribution to the ongoing legend of Stradivari.” –Minneapolis Star Tribune “Fascinating, accessible, and enjoyable.” –Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring
Author :
Publisher :
Page : pages
File Size : 37,83 MB
Release : 2012
Category :
ISBN :
The Easter presents that Russia's last two czars gave to their czarinas have become synonymous with privilege, beauty, and an almost provocative uselessness. They are perhaps the most redolent symbols of the old empire's phenomenal craftsmanship, of the decadence of its court, and of the upheavals that brought about its inevitable downfall. Faberge's Eggs is the first book to recount the remarkable story of these masterpieces, taking us from the circumstances that inspired each egg's design, through their disappearance in the trauma of revolution, to their eventual reemergence in the global marketplace.
Author : Susanna Pfeffer
Publisher : Universe Publishing(NY)
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 33,69 MB
Release : 1990
Category : Art objects
ISBN : 9780883630907
The preeminent master goldsmith of turn-of-the-century Russia was Peter Carl Faberge. He is best remembered for extraordinary Easter eggs, breathtakingly crafted of gold, silver, enamel and precious stones. 48 full-color illustrations.
Author : Will Lowes
Publisher : Scarecrow Press
Page : 332 pages
File Size : 19,89 MB
Release : 2001
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN : 9780810839465
This work presents detailed technical descriptions of 66 Faberge eggs, as well as the stories of people involved in their making or presentation.
Author : Alexander Von Solodkoff
Publisher : Abradale Press
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 46,14 MB
Release : 1989-03-25
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN :
Peter Carl Faberge, court jeweler to the czars, is a name synonymous with beauty, craftsmanship, and sumptuous excess. This exciting book features some of the best photographs ever made of Faberge objects. Over 350 illustrations, 80 in full color.
Author : Tatʹi︠a︡na F. Faberzhe
Publisher :
Page : 278 pages
File Size : 28,35 MB
Release : 1997
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN :
Each known Easter egg is documented with invoice records, correspondence, provenance and correspondence.
Author : Stephen E. Nash
Publisher : University Press of Colorado
Page : 301 pages
File Size : 24,53 MB
Release : 2016-07-07
Category : History
ISBN : 1607325039
Vasily Konovalenko’s unique, dynamic, and theatrical sculptures stand alone in the gem-carving world—bawdy but not salacious, political but not diplomatic, boisterous and exuberant yet occasionally sensitive. Stories in Stone offers the first comprehensive treatment of the life of this little-known Russian artist and the remarkable history of his wonderful sculptures. Part art catalogue and part life history, Stories in Stone tells the tale of Konovalenko’s impressive works, explaining their conception, creation, and symbolism. Each handcrafted figure depicts a scene from life in the Soviet Union—a bowman hunting snow geese, a woman reposing in a hot spring surrounded by ice, peasants spinning wool, a pair of gulag prisoners sawing lumber—painstakingly rendered in precious stones and metals. The materials used to make the figurines are worth millions of dollars, but as cultural artifacts, the sculptures are priceless. Author Stephen Nash draws upon oral history and archival research to detail the life of their creator, revealing a rags-to-riches and life-imitates-art narrative full of Cold War intrigue, Communist persecution, and capitalist exploitation. Augmented by Richard M. Wicker’s exquisite and revelatory photographs of sixty-five Konovalenko sculptures from museums, state agencies, and private collections around the world, Stories in Stone is a visually stunning glimpse into a unique corner of Russian art and cultural history, the craft and science of gem carving, and the life of a Russian artist and immigrant who loved people everywhere. Co-published with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, home to the most significant collection of Russian gem-carving sculptures by Vasily Konovalenko in the world.
Author : Susanna Pfeffer
Publisher :
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 30,76 MB
Release : 1990
Category :
ISBN :
Author : Toby Faber
Publisher : Faber & Faber
Page : 389 pages
File Size : 47,70 MB
Release : 2019-04-30
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 0571339069
First published to celebrate Faber's 90th anniversary, this is the story of one of the world's greatest publishing houses - a delight for all readers who are curious about the business of writing.'A striking drama.'SUNDAY TIMES'Never less than fascinating.'DAILY TELEGRAPH'This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in twentieth-century literature . . . a treasure trove.'SCOTSMAN'The details here do consistently shine.'NEW YORK TIMES'Ingeniously compiled . . . charming and quirky'EVENING STANDARDTold in its own words, this is the story of one of the world's greatest publishers, capturing the excitement, hopes and fears of the people who published and wrote the books that line our shelves today. Including archive material from T. S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney, P. D. James, Kazuo Ishiguro and Philip Larkin, this is both a vibrant history and a hymn to the role of literature in all our lives.