FABERGE IN LONDON AT THE V&A. EPISODE TWO

The Jewellerian - Stories of Jewels

In the second part of my exclusive interview with Kieran McCarthy - organised in collaboration with the V&A Museum and recorded in London in October 2021 - we discuss Faberge's firm entry into English society with, firstly an office in London and then a standalone store.

The boutique at 173 Bond Street became the home away from home for the Russian emigré community, many of whom had escaped their motherland in the early 1900s. Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich, grandson of Emperor Nicholas I would salute the portraits of the Tsar and Tsarina that hung on the walls in the London salon. And the many American heiresses, who had married into English aristocracy, would spend afternoons buying gifts to send back to their motherland. In fact Feodorowna Lady Alington (herself named after the name taken by Russian Tsarinas on marriage) proclaimed that all guests at her Christmas parties must exchange gifts from Faberge!

Of course one of the reasons that Faberge opened in London and not Paris, was thanks to the British Royal Family, already ardent supporters of the St Petersburg goldsmiths. Queen Alexandra, sister to the Dowager Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, had began a formidable collection whilst Princess of Wales - much of which had been gifted by her Russian relatives. Indeed her sister Maria Feodorovna was so annoyed that Faberge had opened in London that she famously said “Now that that silly Fabergé has his shop in London, you have everything, and I can’t send you anything new, so I am furious.”

I do hope that you enjoy this fabulous second episode with the inimitable Kieran and come back for the last episode - his remarkable discovery of one of the missing Imperial Eggs.