In honor of what would have been Peter Carl Faberge’s 164th birthday, Google is celebrating with a new Doodle. The search engine replaced its official logo on its homepage with Faberge eggs, one of his more well-known creations.
Faberge, who served as jeweler and goldsmith to the Russian Imperial Court, is known for creating eggs with gemstones and precious metals. He created eggs for the Russian Imperial family between 1885 and 1916, after Tsar Alexander III wanted to give his wife a jeweled Easter egg for the 20th anniversary of their engagement. The jeweler was reportedly inspired by an egg owned by his wife’s aunt, Princess Wilhelmine Marie of Denmark.
According to Faberge’s website, it was a tradition to bring hand-colored eggs to Church to be blessed and then presented to family and friends. As the tradition evolved through the years, the custom of presenting bejeweled Easter gifts arose. It was then that Tsar Alexander III had the idea to commission Faberge to create the egg, and the first Imperial Easter egg was born.
The bejeweled eggs were produced for 32 years. The tradition ended in 1917 when the Bolsheviks nationalized the House of Faberge and he left St. Petersburg.
Written by: Karen Benardello
