'Faberge Rediscovered' On View at Hillwood Museum

  The 'Faberge Rediscovered' exhibition at Hillwood Museum in Washington, D.C. promises a "fresh look at the works of Faberge, revealing new information, attributions, and provenances for Hillwood's objects..." {1}  

Marjorie Merriweather Post

Marjorie Merriweather Post had exquisite taste in objets d'art. Her fondness for Russian decorative arts prompted her to collect hundreds of Russian works over her lifetime. She displayed her collections in her Washington, D.C. home which she called Hillwood. Hillwood served as her private residence for nearly 25 years. There, she hosted lavish garden parties during the spring season. The estate sits upon 25 acres of land in a natural woodland setting. Visitors can meander through 13 acres of formal gardens, including Japanese and French parterre gardens. In 1977, following Ms. Post's death, Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens opened its doors as a public museum.  

Faberge Music Box

This year, Hillwood Museum pays tribute to Peter Carl Faberge, the most legendary Russian jeweler of all time. His commissioned pieces filled the treasuries of Russian royals, and reached beyond the borders of Russia into the UK, France, and much of Europe during the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1927, Marjorie Merriweather Post brought her first piece of Faberge art to America. Pictured above, this exquisite amethyst quartz music box was fashioned by the house of Faberge under the direction of workmaster Henrik Wigstrom. In 1907, Felix and Nikolai Yusopov commissioned Faberge to create the music box as a gift for their parents' (Felix and Zinaida Yusopov) 25th wedding anniversary. The music box represents what is undeniably the finest example of Faberge enameling. Decorated in the Louis XVI style, the music box features six sepia enamel panels feature renderings of six of Yusopov palaces. The thumbpiece bears the Roman numerals XXV set in diamonds. Each family member's initials appear in the lower four corners of the octagonal box. When opened, the music box plays the march of Prince Felix's regimental march, "The White Lady."  

Faberge Rediscovered

The Yusopov Music Box is just one of over 100 Faberge works on display at Hillwood Museum during the Faberge Rediscovered exhibition. These important works include the greatest examples from Hillwood's Faberge collection, as well as important loans from private collections and other museums. Certainly, in keeping with Ms. Post's standards, every piece is beautiful, exquisitely crafted, and associated in some way with royalty. Curated in three distinct sections, Faberge Rediscovered will, without a doubt, delight visitors at every turn. The first section draws you into the 19th-century showroom of esteemed jeweler Peter Carl Faberge. Since no artist is without his muse, the exhibition focuses first on Faberge's inspirations. Hence, they invite you to explore the process and creation of works that Faberge would have drawn inspiration from. Additionally, you will see original drawings from the Faberge workshops that have never before been seen by the public. Following Faberge's inspiration, step into the second section, where official commissions from the Russian court, the aristocracy, and foreign royals hold center stage. Undeniably the most exciting portion of the exhibition, this is where you will see Faberge's exquisite works up close and in person. Highlights of this section include three Faberge Imperial Easter Eggs and the Yusopov Music Box. Finally, the third section focuses on Faberge's Russian and foreign contemporaries and competitors. Works by Ovchinnikov, the Grachev Brothers, and Cartier carry visitors through to other important pieces fashioned in the context of war and revolution. In the light of such a tumultuous time in history, the museum emphasizes the importance of American art dealers and collectors. Without them, Faberge's influence may have ended with the fall of the Russian imperial regime. Highlights of this section include an egg-shaped basket and bell push attributed to Faberge's most exacting workmaster, Mikhail Perkhin.  

Exhibition Details

Faberge Rediscovered is on view until January 2019, at Hillwood Museum, Estate, and Gardens. Located in Washington, D.C., Hillwood Museum is open to the public Tuesday - Sunday from 10am to 5pm. For more information and directions, we invite you to visit Hillwood's website.   REFERENCES 1. Kate Market, Hillwood's executive director, quoted on Hillwood Museum's webiste. Accessed August 15, 2018.