A taster of today's 'Royal Rivals' talk at the Smithsonian. Looking forward to getting back into the ring with Kieran McCarthy of Wartski to battle it out for Cartier and Fabergé, and share the stories behind some of the iconic creations — like how a Fabergé egg made its way from the imperial palace to Kieran via a bric-a-brac market in the mid-West.
And in the meantime, a little quiz: these creations pictured here are a mix of Cartier and Fabergé — any guesses for which is which?
While visiting the Universal Exhibition in their hometown of Paris at the turn of the 20th century, the three Cartier brothers — grandsons of the founder of the venerable jewellery house — were awe-struck by the exquisite craftsmanship of Carl Fabergé's creations, and the seeds for a long-standing international rivalry were planted.
As part of their quest for the greatest luxury clients on the planet, both firms — one French, the other Russian — decided to open a showroom abroad. They chose not only the same city, London, but the same location, New Bond Street, and so the scene was set for an epic battle.
