Collecting Russian Faberge-Style Sterling Silver, Vermeil, and Porcelain Egg Pendants: Buying Guides for International Collectables, A Series, Volume Four

Collecting Russian Faberge-Style Sterling Silver, Vermeil, and Porcelain Egg Pendants was written to help the buyers of Russian egg pendants and lockets understand the background of this fascinating collecting field, to learn about some of the most popular types, and find resources for purchase, with photos throughout.
Collecting egg pendants of all kinds, especially the types made in the Russian tradition, is lots of fun and highly addictive. Eggs are the symbol of renewal, new beginnings, and springtime. Jewelers skilled in the art of Russian egg making create these small masterpieces inspired by the jeweled eggs made by Peter Carl Fabergé for the family of the Tsar during the 19th century. Typically, pure gold is applied over sterling silver, the egg is hand-enameled, and then each sparkling crystal and/or gemstone is added by hand.
Silver is a common material with fine eggs, with a purity of anywhere from 87 to 99 per cent. Sterling is most common, a type of silver that is at least 92.5% pure silver. Many times, gold is applied before enameling, making it silver gilt (vermeil). There are also solid gold enameled eggs (with gold purity in a range of levels like 9k, 10k, 14k, and 18k), and eggs made of faceted crystal or genuine gemstones with gold and silver caps, bales, or accents. But don’t overlook Russian porcelain and hand-painted wood egg pendants. Long before there were silver gilt enamel eggs made by Faberge, there were pendants made of wood and the highly prized substance known as porcelain. Porcelain was so expensive, it was called “white gold” in Imperial Russia. Russia was one of the first European countries to create porcelain so these eggs have cultural and historical significance. Hand-made, hand-painted, hand-decorated porcelain egg pendants and wood egg pendants are each totally unique. Very few are made today and yet they deserve a place in every fine egg pendant collection.
Egg pendants made of fine art glass, filigree vermeil silver, and enameled metal called cloisonné are also right at home in any egg pendant collection, too. Some of the most beautiful glass eggs come from Italy, especially Venice and the Italian island of Murano. Some of these glass eggs are called "wedding cakes" because the beads resemble ornately decorated cakes. Metal egg-shaped beads usually made from copper or brass and decorated with a complex enameling process known as cloisonné are typically decorated with flowers, fruit, and birds. These are made in China and many other nations with examples made before 1980 being especially prized. Both art glass and cloisonné egg pendants may be decorated with sterling silver and/or gold and some may have bales made from those metals. Again, a hallmark is not always present so if in doubt, ask an expert or assume that the bale is gold-plated or silver-plated.
This series of booklets, Buying Guides for International Collectables, celebrates folk art and collectable items from around the world, including some that are not well-known but that are affordable and fascinating. Ceramics, wood carvings, semi-precious gemstones, embroidery, sculpture, and sterling silver figurines are just some of the areas explored. Let’s feast our eyes on the traditional arts and crafts of India, Mexico, Russia, Ghana, USA, Brazil, Japan, China, and many other nations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: From Russia with Skill, About the Faberge Name, How is Value Determined? Egg Sizes, Where are They Made? What About Sterling Silver and Gold Hallmarks? Porcelain, Wood, Glass, Filigree, Gemstone, and Cloisonné Eggs, Animal and Insect Eggs, Base Metal Eggs, Where Can I Buy Collectible Eggs? What Does the Jump Ring Tell Me? Can They Be Repaired? Glossary of Helpful Terms, The Gemstones, Wearing, Displaying, and the Egg Tree.