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 J Charm.

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.

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 I Charm''.

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 H Charm.