S5·E31 The Fabulous World of Fabergé

In 1885, court jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé was commissioned by Czar Alexander III to create a special jeweled Easter egg for Russia’s Empress Marie Feodorovna. Fabergé’s creation—a perfect replica of a hen’s egg, fitted with ingenious gold traps and filled with precious stones—delighted the royal family and began an imperial tradition. In this revealing program, Fabergé’s descendants and leading historians tell the complete story of the master jeweler’s life, from his rise to international fame to his narrow escape from a Bolshevik firing squad. Jewelry experts explain why Fabergé’s rare eggs are still some of the most coveted art objects in the world. The world’s great collectors share a privileged look at his work and review his remarkable creations.