Between 1885 and 1916, Carl Faberge made fifty fabulous jewelled eggs - Easter presents from Russia's last two emperors to their wives. They have b...
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Dec 22, 2008
Lena
rated it: 
Between 1885 and 1917, the workshops of Carl Fabergé produced more than 50 hand-crafted eggs that were given as Easter gifts to the last two Russian czarinas. In this highly readable account, Toby Faber tells the story of these eggs, the jewelers who produced them, the dying regime that commissioned them, and how they came to be some of the world's most highly coveted objects in the century following the fall of the czars.
Though I was drawn to this book by my own glittery fascinatio More...
Though I was drawn to this book by my own glittery fascinatio More...
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Apr 03, 2011
Sesana
rated it: 
I've been fascinated in the Imperial Faberge eggs since I first played Shadow Hearts: Covenant. One of the party members is Anastasia Romanov (yes, really) and her weapons are Faberge eggs (yes, really!). I was surprised at how many of them were (however loosely) based on real Imperial eggs. I really enjoyed this book, getting to learn the backstory behind all of these eggs. Most of them are beautiful, some of them are a little gaudy, but all of them are masterfully crafted. The story of the egg
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Dec 15, 2010
David
rated it: 
From 1885 to 1917, the Carl Fabergé workshops produced more than 50 hand-crafted fabulous jeweled eggs that were given as Easter gifts to the last two Russian czarinas. Toby Faber tells the story of these eggs, the jewelers who produced them, the dying Romanov regime that commissioned them, what happened to most of the eggs, and how they came to be some of the world's most highly coveted objects in the century following the fall of the czars. (Summary)
Fabergé's Eggs: The Extraordinar More...
Fabergé's Eggs: The Extraordinar More...
Aug 06, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
The most valuable Easter Eggs of all time have out-lived an empire, survived a revolution and fled their motherland in search of better-lined display cases. This is the epic telling of the final days of these symbols of the wealth of the Tsars.
Toby Faber shows how powerful a reputation these treasures have gathered from the time of Faberge until the present day. However, the eggs themselves are god-awfully boring with the exception of their making. Once you get over the cost of it, the More...
Toby Faber shows how powerful a reputation these treasures have gathered from the time of Faberge until the present day. However, the eggs themselves are god-awfully boring with the exception of their making. Once you get over the cost of it, the More...
Feb 18, 2011
Megan-Marie
rated it: 
Not very well researched; it seems as though he wrote the book sometime in the late 90s and then found it a drawer and sent it undoctored to a publisher in 2007. A brief afterword provides some recent discoveries but doesn't really redeem the whole. The first chapters are nearly unbearable, his prejudice against the Romanov family making me wonder why he didn't choose a topic he found more palatable to write about. I wasn't expecting pictures, and there are very few (and practically none of the
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Aug 10, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
A look at the collection of Imperial Easter Eggs that were made by Carl Faberge, who they were for, and even more interesting, what happened to them after the Russian Revolution. Terrific read that isn't too heavy, and rather exciting. While some of it is redundant, and will be not that interesting if they already know about Faberge, the Romanovs, and the Eggs, it still is a good introduction to the topic.
To see the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Fabe... More...
To see the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Fabe... More...
Dec 07, 2009
Asho
rated it:
I enjoyed this book, although it took me longer to get through than I thought it would.
I am fascinated by imperial Russian history so I was excited by the idea of a book that traced the downfall of the Romanovs through focusing on their Faberge eggs. It's definitely an intriguing idea, and I always like histories that re-tell well-known stories through new lenses.
With that said, the book was a bit inconsistent, which is why it received only three stars (although I'd give 3.5 if I More...
I am fascinated by imperial Russian history so I was excited by the idea of a book that traced the downfall of the Romanovs through focusing on their Faberge eggs. It's definitely an intriguing idea, and I always like histories that re-tell well-known stories through new lenses.
With that said, the book was a bit inconsistent, which is why it received only three stars (although I'd give 3.5 if I More...
Jan 08, 2010
Tobi
rated it:
Everyone has heard of Faberge Eggs but do you know the real story? This is a wonderful book that is not only the story of Carl Faberge and his eggs but also of the Russian Royal Family of Czar Nicholas. The famous eggs were first commissioned as Easter presents for the Czarina. This book is also a short but detailed history of the Russian Revolution, the murders of the Czar's family, the aftermath, and then goes on to follow the path of the Imperial Eggs to the present day. It is a fascinati
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Nov 17, 2010
Julie
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This was a great comprehensive look at Faberge’s life, his work, and his relationship with the Russian Imperial Family. After Alexander III first began the tradition of giving a Faberge egg to his wife every Easter, Faberge’s skill and attention to detail flourished each year. Upon Alexander’s death, his son Nicholas II would continue the custom, commissioning elaborate eggs for both his mother and his wife. Faber’s book details many of these imperial eggs, and traces their histories through
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Dec 22, 2008
Amy
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I've always been intrigued by Faberge eggs and Russian tsars. This is an excellent, current book about Faberge himself and the czarinas whom he made eggs for each year for many years. It is amazing how so many survived wars, communism, etc. and who owned them after the last tsar and his family were executed. Lots of great pics too.
Aug 30, 2010
Leon
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Interesting bits -- describing the production of Faberge's imperial eggs in the context of the waning days of the Romanov dynasty, and extracting interesting bits about the people who owned and traded the eggs. The surveys of all known Imperial eggs at the back of the book are useful. Wish there were photos of all the eggs.
Jul 05, 2009
Marlene
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I really liked this book. The first 2/3 dragged a little, but I sped through the last third. I love anything about the Romanovs. Really well researched. I too wished there had been more photos.
Jun 18, 2011
Kevin
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Russian History and the story of the craftsmen that worked in the Faberge shops. This is a unique piece of history and is well told.
Dec 09, 2008
Laura
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It's all tied in with the Romanov's and the Russian Revolution. I don't think I will recommend this to anyone, but it wasn't bad either. 3 stars! Average.
May 17, 2011
Gail
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Lots of information about Faberge family, the last two czars, the eggs and their fate. A fun read.
Jun 05, 2010
Megan
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I thought this book was very interesting and I liked how the author used the eggs to tell the story of the Romanovs. My only complaint is that the book should have included more pictures of the various eggs.
Feb 08, 2009
Jerry
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I like books like this - ones that weave a couple of story lines together. Having heard of the Faberge imperial eggs but not in any detail this was pitched about right for me. It tells the story of the eggs from the time they were made to the present but in terms context i.e. what was happening at the time.
In many ways the explanation of the last days of the Romanovs is the most interesting piece, especially for an non-expert like me. I learned a lot about that period of history with More...
In many ways the explanation of the last days of the Romanovs is the most interesting piece, especially for an non-expert like me. I learned a lot about that period of history with More...
Aug 10, 2011
Joan
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A fascinating story about the Faberge eggs and the Romanov's. I was mostly interested in the Romanov's so I got bored at the end when he continued to describe who the owners of the eggs currently are but I thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson!
Mar 17, 2009
Donna Jo
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This was way more boring than I thought. In fact, for some reason I had it in my head it was sort of a coffee-table type picture book. It's not.
Dec 13, 2011
Wil
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A very interesting account of a subject I have never been interested in...he traces the history of the Czars in the process.
Dec 26, 2010
Saturday's
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My interest in the Russian Royal Family leads me to read about Faberge. This was a really interesting and well written book.
Dec 08, 2008
Susan
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I enjoyed reading about Faberge and his creations. I wish there were more pictures of the surviving eggs.
Nov 10, 2008
Ann
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Places the famous eggs in their historical context. Thus, very interesting.
Mar 31, 2010
Ben
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Carl Fabergé and his intricate ovoid creations are now associated with the opulent decadence of the Romanovs. Toby Faber’s superlatively researched book shows exactly how a relatively humble jeweller became the supplier of these fantastic Easter gifts, coveted by collectors down the decades.
As well as recounting the construction of individual eggs and the intriguing surprises they contained, Faber also explores the tumultuous history during which they were made, leading up to Rasputi More...
As well as recounting the construction of individual eggs and the intriguing surprises they contained, Faber also explores the tumultuous history during which they were made, leading up to Rasputi More...
Dec 20, 2009
Margarita
rated it:
A very informative well researched book about Carl Faberge and how his exceptionally magnificent creations became symbolic of the Russian Imperial dynasty beginning with Alexander III.
Jan 27, 2012
Jan 23, 2012
