Faberge Genius

 

Usually I would find it difficult to fawn over the decadent objects that the Russian royal family liked to exchange, but the work of the Faberge firm is of such stand out quality that it merits all the praise it gets.

 

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I first discovered Faberge in Las Vegas at a museum in The Venetian hotel. But Vegas has changed a lot these past few years and is not the gambling adult place it is often assumed to still be. I wandered around enjoying the sheer beauty of the cigarette cases, Imperial Easter Eggs, animals, jewellery and the rest. Then a few months later I saw the Queen's collection of Faberge- mostly flowers and animals and three of the Eggs and many small ones.

 

Faberge's work is perfect in all ways- the materials, finishes, colours, materials, details- even the boxes that the items came in are almost works of art in their own right.

 

What astonishes me most of all about Faberge's work is the colours that are used. You never see the same shades on any one else's work- the blues, greens, yellows, pinks, purples are awesome and are enhanced by the production techniques such as the use of closine enamel to make the colours melt and the smooth patterns flow.

 

The interesting thing about Faberge from a business point of view is that the founder of the firm Carl Peter was not actually a serious craftsman himself. Instead he employed hundreds of artists over the years to create the various works in several workshops. The brand was all and the quality lives on even today. He also established branches in London and Paris as a convenience for his customers to buy the items- he even created a miniature model of a Chelsea Pensioner to appeal to English customers. The materials used in the Faberge pieces themselves was relatively low in value- again it was how they were used that held the true value. He had ranges- from the yearly Imperial Easter Eggs at the high end of which only 50 were ever made (all with humorous jokes and tricks) through to household items that were made by the hundred- again like today's fashion designers. Several master craftsmen managed and oversaw the different types of item that the Faberge factory produced- an early form of management dream team and delegation.

 

All of these business techniques anticipate and mimic modern business practices. Indeed his work and business both stand out as thoroughly innovative. The sheer beauty and majesty of his work means that they would have triumphed and been sold whatever the business model.

 

Beauty and perfection- how can anyone criticise such a thing? Faberge was a genius- the intake of breathe as you see the works is enough to confirm that truth.

 

 

Author: Simon Buckingham

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