Fabergé and Rolls-Royce come together to create the Second Imperial Fabergé Egg since 1917

The 'Spirit of Ecstasy' Fabergé egg is the second of it's kind to be made in the Imperial class, since 1917. In celebration, Benchpeg takes a look at the history of the two unforgetable brands, and the story behind both the Fabergé egg and the 'Spirit of Ecstasy'.  

A World-wide Easter Egg Hunt...

Fabergé, as we know it, was born when Peter Carl Fabergé took over his Father's 'very ordinary' jewellery business in 1882. Born and educated in St. Petersburg, Peter Carl Fabergé mastered his craft by repairing and restoring masterpieces in the Hermitage museum. Through doing so, he was able to master Goldsmithing techniques that were long forgotten. Of particular note, he restored 18th Century French gold and enamel snuff boxes, skills that would undoubtedly inform his later works. 

Shortly after Peter took charge, in 1885, The first ever Fabergé Egg was commissioned by Emperor Alexander III as an Easter gift for his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna. Thereafter, he commissioned one each year until his death- after which his son, Emperor Nicholas continued and expanded the tradition, commissioning two per year: one for his mother and one for his consort Alexandra Feodorovna. The last Imperial Easter egg was made in 1917, prior to the House of Fabergé being nationalised and later confiscated in 1918.

Of the collection of around 50 eggs, only 43 survive. The others remain lost or destroyed, but the world-wide Easter Egg hunt continues with clues to their fate still being uncovered to this day.

Only two of the seven lost eggs are known to have survived the Russian Revolution, of these the 'Nécessaire egg' has garnered the attention of National Press as it is suspected to reside somewhere in the UK. After being sold to Wartski in London by the Bolsheviks, it was then sold on to a buyer with the sole identifier of ‘A Stranger’ in their records- only perpetuating the allure of enigmatic lost eggs.

In 2007, the name 'Fabergé' was again reunited with the Fabergé family. Since then, there has only been one Egg created (since the original run), known as the 'Fabergé Pearl Egg'. Until now; the 'Spirit of Ecstasy Egg' will be the second.

A Monumental Muse...

Whilst the beginning of the 20 Century spelled the end of the first round of Fabergé Easter Eggs, it nurtured the beginning of another historic product. The legacy of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce: the Rolls-Royce brand. Their products, like the works of Fabergé, were the pinnacle of their sector- being dubbed as ‘’The best car in the world’’.

Amongst the pair’s friends were Charles Robson Sykes and Eleanor Thornton. Respectively, the artist and the muse behind the illustrious ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’- the ornament that graces the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce motor car. The muse was an essential player in the power-group.

“She became the central presence of an unsung, yet immeasurably influential coterie of mavericks; one that helped to shape the future of motoring. Their lives now intertwined professionally, as well as by the bonds of friendship, it was her voice that led them. She was a mercurial force that galvanised the group, allowing them to stand together at the forefront of a new frontier of motor travel.”

Sadly, Thornton passed away in 1915, only shortly after bein crystallised in 1909. In every 'Spirit of Ecstasy' ornament that adorns a Rolls-Royce, she is immortalised and recognised as an integral, intrinsic part of the brands heritage. Leaning forward, arms outstretched behind her- she stands as a symbol of the pursuit of personal liberty that is at the brands core. 

Her importance is further recognised in the beautiful 'Spirit of Ecstasy' Egg.

A Breath-taking Alliance...

The unique amalgamation represents two of the most valuable and coveted items in their respective industry. The design, conceived by Rolls-Royce designers Stefan Monro and Alex Innes and rendered by Fabergé lead designer Liisa Talgren, has been brought to life by Fabergé work-master Paul Jones, creating a contemporary interpretation of one of the worlds most fabled and prized possessions. 

The Egg rests on an engine-turned, hand engraved, purple enamel guilloché base of 18 karat white gold. Arms of rose gold define the shape of the egg, acting as a protective chamber for the Egg’s precious inhabitant. Upon operating the movement via a discreet lever at the base of the stand, a sense of theatre ensues as the boughs open to present the fine figurine of the Spirit of Ecstasy, hand-sculpted in frosted rock crystal, standing nobly in her opulent surrounds. The rose gold vanes, embellished with nearly 10 carats of round white diamonds, resolve into swathes of natural amethyst weighing over 390 carats, specially selected for its colour saturation and quality. 

The purple hue of the enamel and amethyst provide a playful nod to the use of colour found in Fabergé’s heritage. The technical mastery of Fabergé prevails. The ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ Fabergé Egg adopts a highly complex operating mechanism, conceived through computer aided design and animation, developed with micro engineering. The success of this mechanism, and in turn the piece as a whole, can be attributed to the goldsmiths’ art as craftspeople and their ability to meld this skill with technology, creating a work of art that could not be created by man alone. The piece embodies both the artistic design and engineering skill that one expects from a collaboration between Rolls-Royce and Fabergé, and has probably the most complicated opening of any Fabergé Egg to date. 

Sean Gilbertson, Chief Executive Officer, Fabergé said,

“A unique moment in both our companies’ history, the creation of the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ Egg represents the meeting of two masters of unrivalled quality and design, showcasing two globally recognised symbols – the Fabergé Egg and the Spirit of Ecstasy.”

Josina von dem Bussche-Kessell, Business Development and Global Sales Director, Fabergé added,

“Two years in the making, we are very excited to unveil this special piece to our clients and partners across the globe together with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and are proud to continue making history by creating bespoke and unique pieces such as this. The ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ Egg marks a demonstration of the reputation that Fabergé proudly carries today.”

To the automotive enthusiast, the design may be reminiscent of the protective contemporary functionality of the Spirit of Ecstasy ornament, that disappears into the body of the car when sensing motion; to jewellery aficionados, it will be reminiscent of the imperial eggs that always contained a precious gift. Either way, the beautiful object d’art will capture the hearts of both groups.  

The egg was premiered at the House of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, England to a select group of guests and patrons of the brand last week. The Egg is now making its way to London, where it will sit proudly in the window of Fabergé this Christmastime. Beyond that, the Egg’s final destination remains as much a mystery to the public as the hotly pursued 'Necissaire Egg', yet we are assured it is destined for the residence of an avid collector of both Fabergé and Rolls-Royce.