The Hen Egg: The Faberge Egg That Started It All

The Origins of the Hen Egg

If you love all things related to art, or even if you’re a history buff. You’ve probably heard of the beautiful creations of Peter Carl Faberge. He created works of art that are both exquisitely designed and historically rich. From an artistic point of view, Faberge’s creations show attention to detail along with the whole picture all at once. The way precious gems and crystals are intricately placed in. Just the right areas make his designs memorable and shine without looking garish.

If you look at his work from a historical perspective, it’s also very valuable for that reason. Faberge’s work was created for the Czars family in Russia. And was continued on until the Russian rebellions a few decades later. An authentic Faberge egg represents the history and past events for which it was created. Making it a coveted and cherished item in the historian’s world.

Probably the most memorable thing about Faberge’s designs is the fact that they are shaped as eggs! His renowned Imperial Egg collection is popular around the world because of the unique shape. How many classical artists have you seen gaining fame for egg-shaped sculptures? This shape, along with their beauty, it what has drawn the world to the Faberge eggs.

How Was the First Faberge Egg Born?

Every famous person or treasured artifact has a beginning. The beginning of the original Faberge egg starts in Russia in 1885. Faberge was a successful jeweler at the time. The Czar of the area, Alexander III, commissioned him to create a gift for his wife, the Empress, for Easter. Faberge combined his love for jewelry and art into one design and made the first real Faberge egg. This egg became known as the Hen Egg and was not only loved by the Empress and her husband. But other royal family members also took a liking to it.
The Hen Egg was unlike anything they’d seen before because it was so delicate and small. More so because it was used to house a ruby pendant for the Empress. It was a bit like a gift box, except a lot fancier and expensive.

How Does The Hen Egg Look?

The Hen Egg is one of the most famous authentic Faberge egg. Obviously, it’s shaped like a normal egg on the outside, with a pearly white smooth surface. When the egg is opened, a pale yellow sphere-shaped to be the yolk of the egg is seen. This yolk is then opened to reveal a tiny gold hen, resting on a nest of golden straw. This hen then opens up to the surprise, a tiny replica of the Russian crown. Complete with authentic jewels, upon which is a ruby pendant. So, you can see how the egg was both fanciful and functional. The idea of this kind of gift quickly became something that everyone wanted.

The Hen Egg’s Impact on the Faberge Field and Its Success

The Empress certainly loved her gift. As the news of this unique egg started to spread, so did many other people. The Hen Egg laid the foundation for Faberge’s career with the royal family. More and more people requested it from him. Word of the fancy egg gift began to trickle down into the common villages as well. Soon, the Faberge egg became something extraordinary. It was something everyone, both royal and otherwise, loved and wanted to give to their own loved ones. This grand success led to Faberge working with the royal family on these eggs for many more years, from 1885-1917. Even after all of these years, Hen Egg and the rest of the authentic eggs. They are still as popular and beloved as they were in past Russia.

Where Is The Hen Egg Now?

As you’ve probably guessed, due to its history and expensive design. Obtaining a real Faberge egg is not an easy feat. The Hen Egg alone is worth $5 million USD, so getting the whole collection is out of the question. They’re only really found in museums or in someone’s private home collection. Today, you can view the Hen Egg in its birthplace. It’s available for the public to see at the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. What better way to see such a beautiful part of history than its natural home?