7.
Aug 24: St. Petersburg, Day 2 of 3
Today
our only shore excursion was to the Fabergé Museum. What a treat!
So different from yesterday's view of royal excess, extravagance and
overwhelming riches.
Small
tour group in the museum (in which, alas, we were not allowed to take
any photos of the pieces we saw). The guide was very knowledgeable,
and the highlight of the museum for me was the collection of the
renowned and world-famous Fabergé Eggs.
This
is a picture from the internet of a typical egg, opened to show the
everpresent “surprise” within.
All
the eggs are crafted from gold and silver, enamels, and a multitude
of jewels: diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, etc., etc.
We
were told that Fabergé and his staff of jewelers would begin an egg
the day after the presentation of one to the royal family on Easter
Sunday, and work for the following year on the next one. The eggs
are small. Usually no bigger than a large man's fist, and the
craftsmanship is staggeringly precise and elegant.
I
remember once many years ago when I was making jewelry,consulting with a man who made jewelry in his home, having retired from
a commercial house. I admired his creations, and he said that they
were nothing. If I wanted to see real jewelry at its finest, I
should look in a book he handed to me, and it was a volume with large
and crisp photographs of all the Fabergé Eggs. I was blown away,
and it happened again in the museum.
A
great experience – much more deeply satisfying than the previous
day.
After
leaving the museum, there was a short canal tourboat ride which was
unremarkable and differently frustrating re: the audio narration, but that could not dim the joy of the morning's visit.
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