TITLE: Peter Carl Fabergé: Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Russian Imperial Court: His Life and Work  

AUTHOR: Bainbridge, Henry Charles  

AUTHOR 2 (if applicable): Sitwell, Sachaverell (Foreword) 

AUTHOR 3 (if applicable): n/a 

ILLUSTRATOR (if applicable): n/a 

PUBLISHER: Spring Books, Date: 1968  

ISBN: N/A (pre-ISBN publication)  

FORMAT: Hardcover, 167 pages  

EDITION: First Reprinted Edition (1966)  

PRINTING [if applicable]: 3rd Printing (Impression) (1968)  

BOOK CONDITION: Very Good  

JACKET CONDITION: Very Good-   

DIMENSIONS (if available): 11.25 x 8.75 x 1.25 in. approx.   

KEYWORDS: Peter Carl Fabergé, Goldsmith, Jeweller, Russian Imperial Court, Life and Work, Eggs, Ornaments, Gold,  

DESCRIPTION: From the dustjacket flap:

Although nearly 50 years have passed since the celebrated Fabergé workshops, under the stresses of war and revolution, closed their doors for ever, the mere name of Fabergé still has a special significance for collectors and lovers of rare and beautiful works of art. Once goldsmiths and jewellers to the courts of Czars Alexander III and Nicholas II, and creators of exquisite objects for royal and wealthy patrons throughout Europe, the famous Fabergé products, relics of a vanished age, are now scattered through the world's museums and private collections. They possess immediately recognisable qualities-imagination, unerring taste and perfection both in design and execution. This pride in superb craftsmanship, this self-imposition of the highest standards was what made Peter Carl Fabergé unique.

It was a tradition which he passed on to his sons and to his workmasters, linking him with the great artist-craftsmen of earlier centuries.

Nobody has been better equipped to reveal the background and rise to fame of this extraordinary man than the late H. G. Bainbridge, friend of his early years in Petersburg, and later manager of his London branch in Dover Street. His story is authoritative and delightfully personal, his reminiscences vividly conjuring up the atmosphere of the carefree Edwardian age. The illustrations selected display an astonishing range of Fabergé articles-the incredibly ornate Easter eggs presented twice a year to the Czar's family, gold cigarette boxes, clocks, miniature pieces of furniture, enamelled parasol holders, sprays of fruit and flowers in pearls and diamonds, figures of birds and animals in jasper and rhodonite and beautifully fashioned models of Russian peasants and cossacks. These are reproduced in 112 black and white plates and 17 colour illustrations.

The reissue of this important and attractive book, first published in 1949, will be welcomed by anyone who recognises and appreciates a standard of craftsmanship which, in our modern world of machines and mass production, is rarely, if ever, encountered.    

CONDITION: Ageing to the dustjacket, some shelf-wear to external faces, light scratches and rubbing to the rear panel, else sound. Interior pages lightly age-toned, save the photo plates which are on glossy paper and less ageing, although slightly toned. A very good copy all around. 

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NOTES ON EDITIONS: We use a number of resources to attempt to determine the edition of the book that we are listing. My most frequently referenced resource is Zempel and Verkler's "First Editions: A Guide to Identification," although we also use other internet sources and make comparisons with listings we find on various internet sites.

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IFEP: Inside Front End Paper

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