The Faberge Arts Foundation (FAF) is a registered
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with offices in Washington,
DC and St. Petersburg, Russia. Since its founding in 1990,
FAF has worked to promote the legacy of Carl Faberge through
international exhibitions, jewelry competitions, and the establishment
of a museum in his name. The foundation has also been concerned
throughout its history with preserving the architectural landmarks
of the city that gave birth to Faberge. Support for the foundation
is provided by individual donors, philanthropic foundations,
and corporate sponsorship for specific programs.
In partnership with St. Petersburg’s architectural, political,
and cultural leaders, including the director of the State
Hermitage Museum and the city’s deputy mayor, the Faberge
Arts Foundation (FAF) serves as an architectural and cultural
conservancy for the city. St. Petersburg is rigorous in its
plans to restore its landmarks while maintaining visual cohesion
and historical unity. FAF works with the city in adapting
its buildings to contemporary urban needs, by inviting international
experts and hosting workshops and conferences. FAF identifies
restoration projects of historical significance, raises awareness
and funds for these projects, and manages the restoration
process.
An exciting project was announced at the Russian Easter celebration
on May 4, 2005: the creation of the first Faberge Museum in
St. Petersburg, which will be located in the State Hermitage.
A joint venture of FAF and the Hermitage, the Faberge Museum
will include exhibitions as well as a multimedia research
center.
FAF has been chosen by the State Hermitage Museum in St.
Petersburg to assist in the establishment of a Faberge Museum
within the General Staff Building on Palace Square. The renovation
of the building, as part of the enlargement of the Hermitage,
is considered the most important current renovation in Russia.
On the main floor of the General Staff Building, in galleries
close to the Winter Palace, the Faberge Museum is designated
to occupy three large galleries containing
• The Hermitage’s collection of Faberge, including the imperial
regalia
• Visiting Faberge exhibitions from Western museums and collections
• A comprehensive library, research facilities for scholars,
and interactive material
Hermitage Director Dr. Mikhail Piotrovsky announced the launch
of the fundraising effort for the new museum at FAF’s Russian
Easter gala at the Russian Embassy on May 4, 2005. The celebration
featured renowned pianist Van Cliburn as well as a performance
by the Washington Cathedral Choral Society and a special Faberge
exhibition.
FAF is currently seeking contributions to the Faberge Museum
in the Hermitage from Western corporations with business interests
in Russia. This group will form the “Friends of the Faberge
Museum” and will be accorded special Hermitage privileges
as well as a highly visible place in the new museum’s Grand
Opening.
With the completion of the new museum in 2007, the works
of St. Petersburg’s native son will have their first home
since the unique workshops of Carl Faberge were shut down
in 1918. The Faberge Museum will be dedicated to the master
and to nurturing new generations of young Russian jewelers
and artists. The Hermitage will build a lasting bridge from
its great cultural heritage to the fresh demands of the twenty-first
century. Those innovative Russian skills of yesteryear—the
mastery of material, the respect for craft, the lofty artistic
vision-will soon inspire and strengthen the creative yearnings
of the country’s youth today.
Restoration of Mikhailovsky Garden Fence
FAF was also chosen by JT International to undertake the
second phase of the Mikhailovsky Garden wrought-iron fence
restoration in downtown St. Petersburg. Perhaps the jewel
in FAF’s crown of accomplishments is the fence restoration
carried out between 1998 and 2002. With this new contract,
FAF will be able to continue maintaining the sixteen-foot-high
Faberge-style panels and restore the magnificent double-paneled
gates that face the Church of the Spilled Blood.
Designed by Alfred Parland as one element of the ensemble
of the Church of the Spilled Blood, the Mikhailovsky Fence
employs two alternating motifs: those of entwining vines and
insets of fantastic flowers wrought of steel. This unique
piece of architectural jewelry, in the Faberge style, consists
of fifty-two sections of lace-like wrought-iron grill work
resting on granite and placed in between stone posts decorated
with irregularly shaped colored brick. The massive gates are
located in the center of the fence. This beloved fence of
St. Petersburg has stood as a familiar landmark since 1907.
On to Sweden for the Young Jewelers Competition in 2007
FAF Advisory Board Member Christian Bolin is leading the
effort for Sweden to host the international competition in
2007. We expect jewelers from St. Petersburg and all the Nordic
countries to participate in FAF’s sixth biennial competition.
The first was held in St. Petersburg in 1996 to commemorate
Faberge’s 150th anniversary.
Faberge Flowers was published in October 2004 by the noted
art house Harry N. Abrams. The first book on the subject of
Faberge’s exquisite jeweled flowers, it combines seventy full-color
photographs of these stunning objects with chapters that illuminate
the lost world of early Faberge collectors, among them the
crowned heads of Russia and England.
Edited by Joyce Lasky Reed and Marilyn Pfeifer Swezey, the
book contains essays by Tatiana Faberge, Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm,
Caroline de Guitaut, Valentin V. Skurlov, Mark A. Schaffer,
Alexander von Solodkoff, and Marilyn Swezey.
Reviews have been glowing, and Slavia Books will publish
a Russian edition in 2007.
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