Jade egg pendant with a perfume compartment in a gold frame on a gold chain with jade beads, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917. The removable upper half of the jade body is encrusted with diamonds.
Easter celebrations in Russia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries were celebrated on a grand scale. It was one of the most revered holidays, widely celebrated in all strata of society – from simple peasants to the highest aristocracy. Easter marked the end of Lent and the most severe time of the year, people welcomed the arrival of spring with hope. Giving Easter souvenirs in the form of eggs became a generally accepted tradition.
Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel and diamond, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1903 1917.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel and diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900.
The fashion for jewelry Easter gifts was determined by the most famous jewelers of Russia, first of all, the jewelry house of Carl Fabergé, famous for making the famous imperial Easter eggs. For a wider range of buyers, the company produced more modest Easter gifts – boxes, table accessories, keychains and jewelry in the shape of an egg. Precious pendants in the shape of an Easter egg were a very popular souvenir. Girls were often given one such column for each Easter.
Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel, ruby, sapphire and diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1903.
Over time, a grown-up girl could collect a whole necklace with these cute pendants. Almost all of the Fabergé workshops produced Easter souvenirs. Henrik Wigström’s workshop, which was responsible for the company’s most important orders, including the creation of imperial Easter eggs, was no exception. Most often, they sold “simple” pendants in the form of an egg, decorated with enamel and precious stones. But there were also pendants with a secret – with a medallion or a perfume bottle.
Bowenite egg pendant decorated with a gold medal depicting Alexander I and a diamond, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1908 1917.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel and diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1908 1917.Gold egg pendant with garnets and a diamond, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1904–1912.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel and diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1903 1904.Gold egg pendant with diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1910.White agate egg pendant in a gold frame with diamonds and rubies, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1910.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1908 1917.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel and diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1910.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel and pearls, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900.Gold egg pendant decorated with white opaque enamel and ruby, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900.Gold egg pendant decorated with guilloche enamel, pearls and diamonds, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900.Gold egg pendant with sapphires, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1904 1912.Gold pendant egg with an elephant, decorated with guilloche enamel, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1908 1917.Gold egg pendant with guilloche enamel, ruby and diamond, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900.Purpurine egg pendant in a gold frame with a diamond, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1908 1917..Gold pendant in the form of an egg with rubies and diamonds, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1904 1912.Purpurine egg pendant in a gold frame with diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, 1904 1912.Chalcedony egg pendant in a gold frame with guilloche enamel and diamonds, craftsman Henrik Wigström, Fabergé, St. Petersburg, circa 1900.Pendant egg with a compartment for perfume made of chalcedony in a gold frame with diamonds, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1903 1904.Gold egg medallion with guilloche enamel imitating dendritic agate, master Henrik Wigström, Fabergé firm, St. Petersburg, 1904 1908.
