There are many interesting and different museums in the world, but the only Faberge museum in the world (in Baden-Baden) operates in the German spa town. Its exposition attracts connoisseurs of the work of the great jeweler from around the world.
Museum founder
The Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden was opened on May 9, 2009. This event attracted many famous personalities in Europe. The founder of the Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden is Alexander Ivanov, a Russian artist and collector. It was his private collection that formed the basis of the exhibition.
According to the director, the opening of the museum cost him almost 17 million euros. The lion's share of these costs include spending on the safety and security of a priceless collection.
Address and tickets
The Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden is open in the very center of the city, along Sofienstraße in the central city square Leopoldplatz. It was not chosen by chance. Historically, these are one of the most popular resorts among Russian people. In addition, there are many wealthy tourists from all over the world.
The tour is conducted in 4 languages. The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For group visits, it is better to reserve excursions in advance. An adult ticket to visit the Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden will cost 12 euros. For teenagers, senior citizens and students discounts are provided.
Extensive exposure
The museum exhibits more than 700 exhibits. Although the collection of the Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden has more than 3,000 items, but due to the limited exhibition space, some of them are in storage. Museum employees update the exhibition every six months.
The highlight and the most expensive exhibit in the collection is the famous Rothschild egg. It was made to order in 1902 on the occasion of the engagement of Edward de Rothschild. The owner of the collection laid out a tidy sum for valuable rarity - $ 18 million at an auction. Now this priceless exhibit is on display. According to the owner of the museum, this is the best of Carl Faberge.
In addition, the collection also includes the famous Faberge eggs belonging to the family of the last Russian emperor. So interesting is the story of the Birch Egg. It was made by order of the emperor in 1917 as a gift from the mother of Nicholas II. It is made of Karelian birch and decorated with diamonds and gold. The king did not have time to present a precious gift, because he was overthrown from the throne. For a long time, experts argued about the authenticity of this work, since nothing was known about it. Ivanov managed to collect documents confirming the authenticity of the exhibit and historical value.
Also on display are other precious works by the Faberge workshop. The world's largest collection of cigarette cases is interesting, as well as various miniature figures, household items made of precious metals and stones. Each of the exhibits is beautiful and interesting in its own way.
World War I
The Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden clearly shows the history of the country on the example of a specific campaign. One of the halls of the museum is dedicated to the First World War. At that time, demand for jewelry in Russia fell significantly. Carl Faberge “knocked out” orders for the company from the military department. Jewelers of the highest class, accustomed to working with precious metals and stones, began to produce goods for the front. Among them are cartridges, grenades, syringes, lighters, dishes for soldiers. Also, workshops produced cigarette cases, ashtrays, various plates, pans and stoves. This allowed Karl Faberge to save skilled craftsmen from being sent to the front, where they would have been waiting for imminent death, and to stay afloat in difficult wartime.
All products for the front, produced in Faberge workshops, were of high quality and precision. This was repeatedly noted by the command. Now these items are of historical value.
Faberge Hall
A separate exposition is dedicated to the most famous jeweler in the world, Carl Faberge. Here you can learn about the important stages in the life of this great man. His biography is very exciting and instructive. He combined the qualities of a great artist, a skilled craftsman and a tenacious businessman. He became not only the court jeweler of the imperial court, but also the creator of a network of world-famous jewelry workshops. The work of his house was notable for its meticulous execution and subtle artistic taste. They were in great demand not only in Russia and Europe, but also in America, India and China.
Even during the life of the jeweler, these products were highly appreciated by contemporaries and received high awards at prestigious exhibitions. Every year they are appreciated higher and higher by collectors and admirers of the beauty of the whole world.
Faberge and not only
The founder of the museum is a great connoisseur of beauty. It is not surprising that in the Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden, a photo of which will tell a little about the exposition, there was a place for other jewelry masterpieces by recognized masters of this business: Cartier, Pavel Ovchinnikov, Frederick Boucheron and others.
Future plans
The founder of the Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden plans to significantly expand the museum's exhibition. Now, work is underway to commission a new wing, which will exhibit products of old European masters and jewelry from the pre-Columbian era, brought from Peru.
The founder of the Faberge Ivanov Museum (in Baden-Baden) is also a collector of vintage cars and motorcycles. In his collection of fifty American and European cars produced from 1890 to 1930. Moreover, all the exhibits are in excellent condition. The founder’s plans include them in the exposition.
The Faberge Museum in Baden-Baden is a unique opportunity to see the treasures of Russian jewelry in all its splendor. The beauty and grace of these products are undeniable. This is the most expensive private collection of exhibits of Russian art in the world, which is open to all comers.