Fabergé eggs are like a cross between Easter eggs and nesting dolls. Learn the interesting history behind these national treasures.

1. The History Behind
Fabergé Eggs

2. Peter Carl Fabergé
• There are many famous and respected jewelers
around the world, but few can match the timeless
talent and vision of Peter Carl Fabergé and his
world-famous series of jeweled eggs.

3. What is a Fabergé Egg?
• Fabergé eggs are like a cross between Easter eggs
and nesting dolls.
Each egg
incorporates gold,
gems, and precious
metals into intricate
designs.
Fabergé eggs often
open up to reveal a
surprise trinket or
piece of jewelry.
Usually, these open
up again to reveal
even more jewelry.

4. The First Fabergé Egg
• Russian Tsar Alexander III commissioned the first
Fabergé egg – “The Hen” in 1885.
• Fabergé designed The Hen with gold and white
enamel, which made it look like a real, shimmering
egg.
• The Hen opened to reveal a matte gold “yolk.” The yolk
opened to reveal a golden hen with ruby eyes.

5. Fabergé’s Royal Appointment
• The Tsar gave The Hen to his
wife, Maria. She loved it so
much that Fabergé was
appointed to serve as
Goldsmith by Special
Appointment to the
Imperial Crown.

6. The Demand for Eggs Rises
• Following his elevation in title, Fabergé’s jewelry
business exploded in popularity.
• Russian royalty and aristocrats commissioned
Fabergé for eggs of their own. Fabergé and his
craftsmen produced 64 eggs total.

7. The Fate of the Fabergé Eggs
• During the Russian Revolution of 1917, most
of the aristocracy’s possessions were seized –
and the Fabergé eggs were caught up in the
conflict.
• Today, eight of the eggs are still missing:
• Hen with Sapphire Pendant
• Cherub with Chariot Egg
• Nécessaire Egg
• Alexander III Portraits egg
• Mauve egg
• Empire Nephrite egg
• Royal Danish egg
• Alexander III Commemorative egg
Alexander III Commemorative egg
Royal Danish egg

8. Notice to Pawnbrokers and
Antique Dealers
• Because of their immense value and collectability,
Fabergé eggs have been the object of theft many times
over the years.
• The majority of Fabergé eggs today are in the hands of
collectors.
• Occasionally, less savvy thieves will try to sell Fabergé
eggs to antique dealers or pawnbrokers when they
can’t find a collector.
• Therefore, it’s very important that members of these
professions stay alert and well-read on these types of
collectables to avoid buying stolen goods.

9. About MGS
Manhattan Gold & Silver (MGS) is a precious metals refiner that has been based in
Manhattan’s historic Diamond District since 1985. We are a B2B company that
buys and recycles precious metal scraps that accumulate in other businesses.
We serve:
• Jewelers
• Pawnbrokers
• Dentists
• The industrial sector
• Antique dealers
• Machinists
• Domestic mining
• And more!
• MGS also creates charts, calculators, and other online tools for our customers to
use.
• Try our Precious Metals Prices app, which lets you monitor the real-time precious metals
market situation from anywhere, right from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

10. Recycle your Precious
Metals for Profit
• MGS accepts gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
• Payouts are based on the London Fixing.
• Up to 99% payout (among the highest in the US)
• Up to 98.5% for gold brought in for hand testing.
• Not in NYC? Ship us your precious metals using our Ship &
Sell service which offers:
• Same day wired payment (once lot is received)
• Discounted, insured shipping
• Payout calculator

11. Connect with MGS
• For amazing facts, history and news, read our gold and precious metals blog.
• Join the conversation about precious metals on the MGS page on Facebook.
• Follow gold, silver, and other precious metal trends at the MGS Twitter account.
• Circle MGS on Google+ to hear our latest updates.
• If you do business with us, connect with us on the MGS LinkedIn page.
• To see precious metal melting and refinement in action, visit the MGS YouTube
channel.