Nobel Ice (Fabergé egg)
Encyclopedia
The Nobel Ice Egg, sometimes also referred to as the Snowflake egg, is a jewelled
enamelled
Fabergé
Easter egg
made under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
, for the Swedish-Russian oil baron and industrialist Emanuel Nobel
between 1913 and 1914.
, and one of Fabergé's best customers. Franz Birbaum, Fabergé's head workmaster, recalls that Emanuel Nobel "was so generous in his presents that at times it seemed that this was his chief occupation and delight. Orders were constantly being made for him in the workshops and from time to time he came to have a look at them. Often he only decided for whom the present should be when the work was finished."
After the Russian Revolution, it was sold to the Parisian dealer A. A. Anatra, whom subsequently sold it to Mr. Jacques Zolotnitzky, of A la vieille Russie
, in Paris. It was later sold to a North-American collector.
In 1994 it was sold at Christie's, in Geneva, for several hundred thousand dollars.
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
enamelled
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
Fabergé
Fabergé egg
A Fabergé egg is any one of the thousands of jeweled eggs made by the House of Fabergé from 1885 to 1917. Most were miniature eggs that were popular gifts at Eastertide...
Easter egg
Easter egg
Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans...
made under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Karl Fabergé also known as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé in Russia was a Russian jeweller of Baltic German-Danish and French origin, best known for the famous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane materials.-Early...
, for the Swedish-Russian oil baron and industrialist Emanuel Nobel
Emanuel Nobel
Emanuel Nobel was a Swedish-Russian oil baron, the eldest son of Ludvig Nobel and his first wife, Mina Ahlsell, grandson of Immanuel Nobel and nephew of Alfred Nobel.-Businessman:...
between 1913 and 1914.
History
The egg was made between 1913 and 1914 for Emanuel Nobel, the Swedish-Russian oil Baron, son of Ludvig NobelLudvig Nobel
Ludvig Immanuel Nobel was an engineer, a noted businessman and a humanitarian. One of the most prominent members of the Nobel family, he was the son of Immanuel Nobel and Alfred Nobel's older brother...
, and one of Fabergé's best customers. Franz Birbaum, Fabergé's head workmaster, recalls that Emanuel Nobel "was so generous in his presents that at times it seemed that this was his chief occupation and delight. Orders were constantly being made for him in the workshops and from time to time he came to have a look at them. Often he only decided for whom the present should be when the work was finished."
After the Russian Revolution, it was sold to the Parisian dealer A. A. Anatra, whom subsequently sold it to Mr. Jacques Zolotnitzky, of A la vieille Russie
A La Vieille Russie
- Overview :, a New York antiques gallery specializing in antique jewelry and Russian works of art, is world-renowned for its collection of artworks by Carl Fabergé, created for members of the Romanov court and other wealthy patrons in late 19th century Russia...
, in Paris. It was later sold to a North-American collector.
In 1994 it was sold at Christie's, in Geneva, for several hundred thousand dollars.
See also
- Fabergé eggFabergé eggA Fabergé egg is any one of the thousands of jeweled eggs made by the House of Fabergé from 1885 to 1917. Most were miniature eggs that were popular gifts at Eastertide...
- Emanuel NobelEmanuel NobelEmanuel Nobel was a Swedish-Russian oil baron, the eldest son of Ludvig Nobel and his first wife, Mina Ahlsell, grandson of Immanuel Nobel and nephew of Alfred Nobel.-Businessman:...
- Nobel familyNobel familyThe Nobel family is a prominent Swedish family closely related to the history both of Sweden and of Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its legacy includes its outstanding contributions to philanthropy and to the development of the armament industry and of the oil industry...
- Peter Carl FabergéPeter Carl FabergéPeter Karl Fabergé also known as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé in Russia was a Russian jeweller of Baltic German-Danish and French origin, best known for the famous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane materials.-Early...
External links
- Miek's Fabergé Eggs Retrieved on 2009-04-28
- Vivian Swift, Alma Pihl's Designs for Fabergé in Magazine Antiques (Jan 1996) Retrieved on 2009-04-28