Fabergé Eggs and the Romanov Family 

My main research questions for this project were, "What are Fabergé eggs?", "What is the history of Fabergé eggs",  "How are Fabergé eggs made?", and "How valuable are Fabergé eggs?" From there, I explored a range of follow-up questions, including why there were called Fabergé eggs, who invented them, why they were originally created, who designed and produced them, how many were made, whether they are still being made today, and why some eggs are rarer and more valuable then others. I also looked at how much Fabergé eggs costs when they were first made compared to their value today, I chose this topic because I was really interested in how something so small and decorative could become so famous, valuable, and historically important. I also wanted to understand the connection between Fabergé eggs and the Romanov family and why these objects became such an important symbol of wealth and Imperial Russia. 

The research that I used for this topic involved looking at the history of Fabergé eggs, when they were first created, who Peter Carl Fabergé was, and why the eggs became connected to the Russian Imperial family. I also researched how the eggs were designed and produces, including the different materials, tools and techniques used to create them. Another major part of my research involved looking at their value, including why some eggs are more valuable and expensive than others, what makes certain eggs rare, how their value has changed over time and some of the most expensive and valuable samples. I also explored how many eggs were made, what happened to them over time, and whether Fabergé-style eggs are still produced today. 

As part of my project, I created my own version of a Fabergé eggs as my final product. I wanted to use the information I had learnt about their design, craftsmanship to create something that represented the style of the original eggs. This gave me the opportunity to combine my historical research with something creative and practical rather than only presenting written information. 

I learnt that Fabergé eggs were much more than decorative objects. They were extremely detailed pieces of art that required a huge amount of skill, planning, and craftsmanship to create. I also learnt that their value comes from a combination of their materials, rarity, history, craftsmanship, and their connection to the Russian Imperial family. Another thing I found interesting was how much their value has changed over time and how certain eggs have become more valuable because of their history and rarity. 

The Big Picture Learning Goals that I used were Communication, Social Reasoning, Empirical Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. I used Communication throughout my presentation and when explaining the history , design, and value of Fabergé eggs. I used Social Reasoning to understand the connection between the eggs, the Romanov family, wealth, status, and Imperial Russian society. I used Empirical Reasoning when researching how the eggs were made, the tools and materials used, and the different techniques involved in their production. I used Quantitative Reasoning when comparing the prices and values, looking at how many eggs were made, how many were lost and found, considering how their value changed over time, and looking at the differences between their original cost and what they may be worth today. 

If I were to complete this project again, I would spend more time looking at the individual Fabergé eggs and the stories behind each one, particularly the rarest and most valuable examples. I would also spend more time planning my own Fabergé egg so that more of the materials. colors, patterns, and details had a direct connection to the research I had completed. Looking back, I can see that this project helped me understand how history, art, craftsmanship, wealth, and value can all be connected through one object.