ColorChallenge: SaturdayIndigo - Fabergé collection[5 photos]

Hey, Steemians!

If you ever go to Saint Petersburg, don't miss the Fabergé collection hosted since 2013 at Shuvalov Palace, an amazing neoclassical building which will impress you through its elegance and columns.

Cockerel Egg

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ38,
All rights reserved - © @alinabarbu

Using precious metals and gemstones, Peter Carl Fabergé created real masterpieces when it comes to jewelry. Born in Saint Petersburg, but having German and Danish origins, he inherited his father's talent when it came to jewelry. At the age of 14, his parents decided to move to Germany and retire from the industry, but left the business in the capable hands of the his father's partner, Peter Hiskias.

Years after, he moved back to Saint Petersburg and decided to take over the family business. Soon his work was noticed by the Russia's Imperial Court. The first Fabergé egg was Hen Egg, a gift ordered by the Tsar to his wife for the Orthodox Easter in 1885. She was so impressed about the jewelry, that just a few days after she received the gift, the Emperor assigned to Fabergé Housethe the title Goldsmith by special appointment to the Imperial Crown 1885.

Cockerel Egg was crafted 15 years after, in 1900, and offered as a gift by Tsar Nicholas II to Empress Maria Feodoronova. It is built out of gold, diamond, rubies, pearls and enamel. As a surprise, the jeweler added a mechanism on the top rear which enables the bird to come out and move.

As mentioned, the entire collection is fantastic and the same applied to the building hosting it. Here are a few more pictures from this location.

Main staircase

Wonderful white marble columns

An elegant room hosting Tsar personal photos

Magnificent chandeliers

Just ensure that you have at least a couple of hours for this visit. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you for reading!

Have a great week-end!