Luxembourg’s new royal couple Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Stephanie de Lannoy, announced their engagement officially to the press on Friday at Chateau de Berg. More than 40 medias from home and abroad were there to snap photos or grab a quote from the couple.
At 3:30pm a press conference took place where journalist were allowed to capture the moment with photos of the Grand Ducal family including their newly-engaged couple’s parents and Grand Duke Jean.
After that the press was ushered out on a terrace where Prince Louis and Princess Tessy as well as Prince Félix joined the family.
Fabergé
created this diamond tiara around 1890. The stunning briolette diamonds
were a gift from Tsar Alexander I to the Empress Josephine after her
divorce from Napoleon Bonaparte. This piece is one of only a few tiaras
ever made by Fabergé.
Tsar
Alexander III commissioned the first egg ever created by the House of
Fabergé in 1885 as an Easter present for his wife, Tsarina Maria
Feodorovna. His son Nicholas II later commissioned such treasures for
his wife Alexandra and for his mother, continuing a tradition that would
last more than 30 years. Fabergé made eggs for only a small number of
other clients; one of those was Swedish industrialist Dr. Emanuel Nobel,
who commissioned this treasure between 1913 and 1914. This piece, a
jeweled, enameled presentation egg, is also referred to as the
“Snowflake Egg,” its shell ingeniously enameled and engraved to simulate
the tracery of frost against a misted ground. It opens to reveal a
“surprise”—a rock crystal and diamond pendant watch. The unique watch
design was created specifically for Dr. Nobel and interpreted in other
jewelry pieces by Fabergé, some of which Dr. Nobel gave as favors at his
dinner parties. Several examples of these “ice jewels” are included in
the exhibition.
The
Imperial Russian court was renowned for the lavish gifts presented to
foreign dignitaries visiting Russia. Fabergé made hundreds of
presentation boxes, but many connoisseurs consider this his finest. Made
of gold and decorated with enamel and diamonds, the box features the
cipher of Tsar Nicholas II on the cover. The Emperor presented the box
to Leon Bourgeois, a French politician and statesman in 1902. Bourgeois
was one of 90 foreigners to receive a snuffbox with the Emperor’s
initials.
Tsar
Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna jointly purchased this
enameled clock in 1896 just weeks after they were married. One of the
first furnishings they selected for their marital home, the clock has a
blue enamel finish signifying true love. From an apprenticeship in
goldsmithing to becoming “Goldsmith to the Imperial Crown,” Carl Fabergé
led an extraordinary life creating unparalleled wonders. Learn more
about the events that shaped this legendary jeweler’s life – and visit
the special exhibition to see his remarkable accomplishments.
