The Mint of Finland has unveiled their latest collector coin which features the artistry of Henrik Wigström (1862 – 1923) who went on to become one of the most noted craftsman in the Fabergé jewelry company in St. Petersburg.

Wigström, who was primarily known for his “Egg” creations, these unique bejeweled items became a firm favorite of the Russian Imperial family. They were exchanged by senior members of the court of St. Petersburg as gifts for special occasions and  many of these exquisite golden and intricately enameled eggs are signed on the inside shell by Wigström himself. He went on to become the Head Goldsmith of Fabergé and held that position for 15 years until the Russian Revolution forced the closure of this famous workshop.

The obverse side of the coin bears an image of one of the most famous creations of Wigström, that of the Coronation Easter Egg, still unfinished, which was eventually given to the Czarina Alexandra by Nicholas II in 1897. The reverse side depicts a swan, in homage to another example of Wigström's exquisite workmanship, the "Swan" Easter egg. The surprise within the egg is a swan made of platinum, gold and precious stones, swimming on a lake of aquamarine. The denomination and year of issue "2012" is  also included on the reverse.

Designed by sculptor Pertti Mäkinen, the coin has a denomination of 10 €URO and is struck in proof quality in sterling silver with a weight of 17 grams and a diameter of 33 mm.

© Mint of Finland. 14 February, 2012

A memorial plaque in honour of  Carl Faberge was unveiled yesterday in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.

The plaque was unveiled at 15 Khreschatyk Street, the former location of the Faberge shop, by Russia's Ambassador to the Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov.

The Kiev branch of the House of Faberge was opened in 1905 and closed in 1910 believing the branch superfluous in light of the already well established and older Odessa branch.

There are plans to erect similar plaques in other Russian cities connected with Faberge leading up to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 2013.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 7 December, 2011

 “The Sandoz Collection”, an exhibition of the extraordinary holdings of the Swiss family that founded the chemical company of that name at A La Vieille Russie on Fifth Avenue, presents 60 objets d’art.

Dating from 1798 to 1908, the exhibits, which include watches, figures, boxes, peacocks, a bird cage, a pistol shooting perfume and a mirror in four colours of gold, are adorned with rubies, diamonds and emeralds.

Some of the objects are mechanical and musical. Included are Imperial swan and peacock eggs by Peter Carl Fabergé owned by Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her mother-in-law, Maria, which have never before been seen in public.

© A La Vielle Russie. 17 November, 2011

Peter Carl Faberge 

A museum dedicated to the creator of the famous Faberge eggs will open in St. Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum as part of the festivities marking the 250th anniversary of the Hermitage in 2014, museum director Mikhail Piotrovsky said.

The Museum of Peter Carl Faberge, to be housed in a refurbished exhibition hall of the western wing of the General Staff Building, will include works by Faberge and jewelry items from the Hermitage collection. From time to time private collections will also be displayed.

"It will an exhibition of the legendary Russian jeweler and his contemporaries. We will also present contemporary jewelry and workds from precious and semi-precious stones," Piotrovsky said.

JTI Company, a Hermitage sponsor, will provide financial support for the Faberge museum and will also provide assistance in training museum employees.

The General Staff Building is situated directly across from the Hermitage on historic Palace Square, was designed by Carlo Rossi and built between 1819-1829.

© RIA Novosti. 10 November, 2011

© Royal Russia. 24 July, 2011

Opening day of Faberge Revealed at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, in Richmond, Virginia, drew a steady stream of visitors on opening day, July 9th, 2011.

© Richmond Times-Dispatch. 11 July, 2011

An auction of Russian art and antiques is to be held in the early part of June in St. Petersburg.

A special place in the auction will be held by a collection of icons which were made between the XVI and XX centuries.

One of the top lots will be a gift ring created in honor of the 300 year anniversary of the Romanov's workshop for Carl Faberge. The ring is made of gold with a silver lining in the form of a double-headed eagle.

In addition to the the previous items, painitings and antiques will be offered including tea and coffee services from the middle of the XIX century.

© The Voice of Russia. 21 April, 2011

The Vatican Museums have opened their doors to the beautiful works of Fabergé, the jeweler of the Romanov Court and European aristocracy. In an exhibition of 140 pieces from the best Russian jewelry in the past hundred years.

© Rome Reports. 18 April, 2011

The private collection of Carl Faberge jewelry that belongs to The Link of Times Foundation will open in the Vatican late last week.

"For the first time ever The Link of Times cultural-historical foundation will offer the worlds largest private collection of the great Russian jeweler Carl Faberge. Faberge. Holy Images exhibition will be held in the Rafael Hall of the Vatican Museum from April 15 to June 11, 2011," organizers of the exhibition told Interfax on Monday.

There will be over 140 Faberge items on display in the Vatican exhibit. Up until now the foundation The Link of Times has exhibited only 80 items from its collection.

The exhibition will include masterpieces of the Romanov family's court jeweler including nine imperial Easter eggs - Alexander III and Nicholas II gifts to their wives on Easter, the egg The 15th Jubilee of Reign with miniature watercolor scenes of main historical events of the19th-20th centuries, the Coronation egg of 1897.

Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg told Interfax that The Link of Times Foundation spent over a year in talks with Vatican regarding the organization of the Faberge exhibition at the Vatican Museum. The lengthy negotiating period was due to the high requirements set by the museum for the collection, he said.

"The collection for exposition was selected by Vatican specialists, it includes 180 exhibits showing Russia's history and the tragic history of the Imperial family, because some objects were commissioned by Nicholas II who was murdered," the businessman said.

In 2004 Vekselberg acquired private collection of Faberge items from a family of American media magnates. According to unofficial data the cost of the sale was about 100 million dollars.

© Interfax. 4 April, 2011