FABERGE EGGS

JEWELRY FOR A NEW ERA

Nivel: intermedio/avanzado

30 minutos

PART TWO

10. Instead of being annoyed at Faberge’s copying of the family jewels, Czar Alexander III was very pleased with the wonderful quality of the  fabulous jewelry that Peter and his brother Agathon produced.

At a fair in Moscow, the czar and his wife, Czarina Maria, bought from the Faberge exhibit. Faberge was presented with a gold medal honoring him as ‘having opened a new era in jewelry art.’

11. It was apparent that Faberge’s profound studies  of Russian jewelry in the famous Hermitage museum had given him a great store of historical and decorative reference.

It was his belief that the craftsmanship and beauty of any object of jewelry gave it ‘added value’ over and above the intrinsic value of the constituent elements such as gold, silver, diamonds and other precious stones.

Easter Egg

It was this belief that enabled him to create the modern age of jewelry design, investing hundreds of hours in perfecting scrolls and flourishes in his jewelry. The end result justified the compliment that he had ‘opened a new era in jewelry art.’

12. The beauty and intricate design of the Faberge jewelry had never been seen at such an elevated level over a long period of time – and all from the same jewelry house!

JEWELRY SUPPLIER TO IMPERIAL COURT

Inevitably, Faberge became Supplier to the Imperial Court and with the aid of Michael Perchin, a Russian goldsmith, he was able to replicate the works of the craftsmen of antiquity.

The fabulous imperial Faberge Eggs are, of course, the best-known and most valuable of all Faberge jewelry products. It is, therefore, surprising to learn that the man himself, Peter Carl Faberge, did not create any of these works of the jeweller's art.

13. At the time the eggs were made the Faberge business was divided into several independent workshops, with each one specializing in a specific area of jewelry production.

It seems that the boss – Faberge himself – didn’t work in the workshop where the eggs were made. The two jewelers who created and produced the eggs, aided by their highly-skilled teams, were Michael Perchin and Henrik Wigstrom.

QUESTIONS:

8. paragraphs 9 -10: only one of these is UNTRUE –

a) The Hermitage was a well-known museum.

b) Peter’s uncle forced him to work in the Hermitage.

c) Works of art and jewels were kept in the Hermitage.

d) The czar liked Faberge’s copies of the imperial jewels.

9. paragraph 11: Faberge was said to have started –

a) a new fashion in ladies’ wear

b) a new trend in Russian hairdressing

c) a new era in shoe design

d) a new era in jewelry design

10. paragraph 11: only one of these statements is TRUE

a) Faberge didn’t study much at the Hermitage

b) Diamonds were never used in his creations

c) He had no faith that artistry could increase an item’s value

d) He invested hundreds of hours in his work

11. paragraph 12: the ....... ……….. of the new jewelry was beautiful and intricate.

a) intention b) design c) retail d) news

12. paragraph 12: ‘A jewelry house’ may be translated, in this context,

as:

a) a small country cottage

b) a banking and investment firm

c) a jewelry manufacturing firm

d) an expensive mansion

13. paragraph 12: Faberge became Supplier to the Imperial Court

a) reticently b) unwillingly  c) surprisingly d) inescapably

14. paragraph 12: With the help of Michael Perchin, Faberge was able to –

a) destroy b) copy c) interrogate d) annihilate

the works of the of the ancient craftsmen.

15. paragraph 13: only one of the following is TRUE –

a) Peter Faberge made all the jewelled eggs himself.

b) In making the eggs he was helped by talented workers.

c) He presided over a large, unified, jewelry factory.

d) The goldsmith Michael Pershin was actually a Russian.

ANSWERS:

8b, 9d, 10d, 11b, 12c, 13d, 14b, 15d.