Kevin Hall
MOULTRIE — They are Russian history writ small, Russian artistry on a gold chain … and they’re coming to Moultrie.
When Carl Fabergé created his famous eggs for the Russian czars, he produced examples of the jeweler’s art that are still revered more than a century later. But a modern jeweler has turned his hand to Fabergé eggs on a miniature scale, creating pendants, earrings and charms with the same techniques of the 19th century master.
Ilya Abelsky, raised in Leningrad and now a U.S. citizen living in Atlanta, will bring his “Eggstravaganza” to Griner Jewelry in Moultrie next week. Amy Griner said the display is scheduled to begin Wednesday and will continue “as long as we can keep people interested.”
Griner said she was attracted by the eggs’ bright colors, their history and “the uniqueness of them.”
No two eggs are exactly alike. All are hand-crafted by Russian artists now living in America, Abelsky said.
“Each piece is unique as a form of art,” he said.
“People are familiar with Faberge large eggs, have seen them in movies, pictures in books,” he said, “but [they do] not know about jewelry and eggs worn as pendants, bracelets, brooches.”
Different designs call for different techniques, but in a nutshell — or an eggshell, rather — the eggs are made of two sterling silver pieces, hinged together, with a raised design. They are then plated with gold and multiple thin coats of brightly colored enamel are applied. Some designs include Swarovski crystal or small gemstones.
Some of the eggs open to reveal a surprise inside. One egg depicts the U.S. Capitol, for instance, and inside it is a tiny Statue of Liberty.
The items on display will be for sale, Griner said, and the prices aren’t as high as you might think.
“Fabergé eggs are insanely expensive,” she said, “but he (Abelsky) wanted to make this affordable for everybody.”
On Abelsky’s website, www.jeweledeggs.com, his company lists pages of designs. None of the eggs are for less than $100, but 19 other designs are. Sixty-seven designs range from $100 to $150, almost all of them eggs. The most expensive item in his catalog, a bejeweled fleur-de-lis egg, costs $1,120, but it’s the only item advertised at more than $1,000.
Griner said she had seen Abelsky’s work at jewelry shows, but while she was attracted by their beauty, she couldn’t follow through at that time. Later, she encountered his work again through the Independent Jewelers Organization, to which both Abelsky and the Griners belong. She called him and “I was sold.”
“I think what Amy is trying to do is to bring something unique to the community, something they’ve never seen before,” Abelsky said.
