Masterpieces fit for a tsar

Anything labelled Faberge has cache

ENAMELLED silver and gold from the famed Russian jeweller Faberge continues to rise in value as demand increases from starlets and businessmen links of london sale.

Carl Faberge, aged 24, took over the jewellery business established by his father, Gustav, in 1870.

Faberge focused his attention on quality of workmanship rather than opulence of materials, and quickly captured the attention of the aristocratic, royalty and the just plain wealthy Links of London Charms.

Faberge maintained a strict discipline of quality throughout his career, commenting in 1914 that even then ''expensive things interest me little if the value is merely measured in so many diamonds and pearls''.

By far the most successful Russian jeweller of his age, Faberge is probably best known for the extraordinary presentation eggs commissioned by Alexander III, and Nicholas II as gifts for the Dowager Empress Marie and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna.

But the master jeweller and his craftsmen made a vast range of objects covering all aspects of the jeweller's art S Charm.

While gold and silver were often the principle metals used for fine work, magnificent objects were produced in copper, bronze, crystal, jade, diamond and onyx, almost always embellished with fine enamels.

There are thought to be about 57 Imperial Faberge eggs, which, with a rich and poignant history, tend to sit at the pinnacle of value for Faberge.

The biggest known collection was assembled by American publisher Malcolm Forbes from the mid-1960s.

Eventually comprising around a dozen presentation eggs, including nine imperial examples, the Forbes collection was displayed widely, and probably inspired others to collect work by Faberge at various prices R Charm.

Forbes also purchased about 180 smaller Faberge items, including bell pushes, smoking accessories, picture frames, trinket dishes, cuff links and jewellery.

In a surprise but canny investment move, the entire Forbes collection of Faberge was consigned for auction in 2004, a move that shocked the jewellery market, many of whom would have loved the opportunity to buy but probably couldn't have raised sufficient cash.

The tsar had paid steeply for what were considered remarkable artworks even in their day. Some eggs took years to create. The 1913 Winter egg had originally cost around $250,000.

In 1994 this egg was auctioned and realised $7.5million, and when it appeared again in 2002 it raised over $13million.