Rolls-Royce and Fabergé Created the Most Spectacular Fabergé Egg
Its complex shape required the creative and design teams of Rolls-Royce and Fabergé.
We all know that the Fabergé eggs are among the most spectacular works of art in history. For over a hundred years, these decorative objects have enticed the richest and most famous people in the world. Fabergé made only 50 such pieces for the Russian royal family between 1885 and 1916, so these "imperial eggs" are very precious collectibles that are worth a fortune.
The creator of the most luxurious cars in the world - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars - teamed up with the creator of the most luxurious eggs to produce the "Spirit of Ecstasy", the Fabergé egg of the 21st century.
The Birth of a Magical Fabergé & Rolls-Royce Egg
The creative process of this unique piece involved teams from both Rolls-Royce and Fabergé.
All image credits: Rolls-Royce
Designers Stefan Monro and Alex Innes drew up the initial project, which was later passed on to Fabergé's chief designer, Liisa Talgren. The object was then completed by the expert Paul Jones, who created a contemporary interpretation of one of the most fabulous objects.
"The Spirit of Ecstasy Fabergé egg was born from an intrinsic desire to further the realms of bespoke personalization. Responding to the continuing demands of patrons in search of unique and cherished possessions, a designer at the House of Rolls-Royce sketched an Egg, igniting a fascination that will undoubtedly become one of the most collectible items of modern times," said Torsten Muller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce's chief executive.
"A unique moment in both our companies’ history, the creation of the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ egg represents the meeting of two masters of unrivaled quality and design, showcasing two globally recognized symbols – the Fabergé Egg and the Spirit of Ecstasy," commented Sean Gilbertson, Fabergé's CEO.
The Characteristics of Fabergé's "Spirit of Ecstasy"
Working with the finest materials and using their skills as jewelry artists, a team of seven Fabergé specialists began to recreate the "Spirit of Ecstasy" design. The little Rolls-Royce mascot is carved out of crystal rock and protected in the egg. The final design is 160 millimeters high and weighs only 400 grams.The Fabergé egg is perched on an 18-karat white gold plinth, hand-inlaid with a rotating purple enamel guilloché base. The gold arms define the shape, acting as a protective chamber for the frosted crystal statue inside.
The mechanism is complex, involving microengineering. Rolls-Royce says this is probably the most complicated way to open a Fabergé egg. The movement is operated by a lever hidden at the base, and the arms open to present the delicate figurine of the "Spirit of Ecstasy" egg.
The gold arms, adorned with white round diamonds of almost 10 carats, continue with strings of natural amethyst of 390 carats, chosen especially for its color and quality. Finally, the purple shade of enamel and amethyst offers a special image, by using the colors from the Fabergé heritage.
It took more than two years to complete the "Spirit of Ecstasy" egg, the second object to be inaugurated in the "Imperial Class" since 1917 - a category reserved only for Fabergé's illustrious creations.
"Two years in the making, we are very excited to unveil this special piece to our clients and partners across the globe together with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and are proud to continue making history by creating bespoke and unique pieces such as this. The ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ egg marks a demonstration of the reputation that Fabergé proudly carries today", said Josina von dem Bussche-Kessell, Fabergé’s business development, and global sales director.
Sources: Rolls-Royce; Fabergé; Epoch Times, Forbes; YouTube; Daily Mail
