FABERGE FLOWERS

New York City, NY: Harry N. Abrams, 2004. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. As New/As New Dust Jacket.. New York City, NY: Harry N. Abrams, 2004. Hardcover. As New/As New. First Edition/First Printing. 128 pages. Retrospective monograph on subject. The single best book on the art of the Faberge Flower. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with the Softcover Edition. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents "Faberge Flowers". Some of Carl Faberge's greatest creations. "At one time, the royal families of Europe and Russia were accustomed to having their every whim satisfied, even apparently impossible desires like freezing and preserving Nature in its most perfect form. This collection of photographs and essays documents Carl Faberge's attempts to do just that for the Russian Imperial Family and other aristocrats throughout Europe. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, Faberge created delicate replicas of pansies, lilies of the valley, violets, and other flowers that were most often destined for glass display cabinets in the royal palaces of London and Moscow. The lush color photographs allow readers to get closer to the pieces than they could ever hope to otherwise, so close that one can see the real fuzz used to augment an intricately crafted dandelion puff and get a sense of how the jars were fashioned in order to look like they were filled with water" (Publishers Weekly) . Faberge is identified with his opulent Russian Easter Eggs, which fetch millions of dollars today. The story of his exquisite, Oriental-flavored flower creations is much less-known even though "The Wild Rose Collection" of Queen Elizabeth II and "The Red Currants" at The Hermitage are world treasures. Combining brilliant yet simply composed photographs of these objects of fantasy with texts that illuminate the world of Faberge, the cultural historian Marilyn Pfeifer Swezey finally restores these aesthetic splendors to their rightful place. The flower jewels come gloriously to life but the water Faberge re-created to complete the illusion of Nature is probably even more beguiling to behold. A book that belongs on every shelf of great photography and art book collection. This title is now collectible. This is one of few copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online are remainder-marked while others command as much as $400. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce copy thus. 78 color plates. One of the most beautiful books on art. A fine copy. . ISBN 0810949539.