Bradley’s Jewellers Hosts Festive Black-Tie Event at Castle Howard to Celebrate Ongoing Fabergé Partnership
04 Nov 2024
Independent and multi-award-winning jewellery business Bradley’s Jewellers York is celebrating the success of a recent VIP customer event at North Yorkshire-based stately home, Castle Howard, which saw it formally unveil the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket and Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Objet. Organised for friends of Bradley’s Jewellers York, VIP customers, Fabergé collectors and members of the public on Saturday, November 2, the event showcased the best of Yorkshire through food, entertainment, and beautiful seasonal decorations. It also provided the perfect backdrop to launch the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket, which was first unveiled on a pre-order-only basis earlier this year.
This new creation is crafted in 18ct gold with a deep red outer shell adorned with diamond-set snowflakes. Inside, a lively hand-painted enamel robin is perched on a branch of holly, complete with miniature berries, and cast in a golden glow thanks to guilloché engraving – a signature of Fabergé craftsmanship.
Kay Bradley comments,
“I was really inspired by British heritage and traditions when conceptualising this special piece. The robin has always been my favourite bird, and one has often appeared at important moments in my life as a guide or a reminder of good times to come. This Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket is crafted in red and gold to celebrate the first ever Fabergé egg charm I received as a gift from my parents as a girl. All these personal touches make this extraordinary creation something I will never forget.”
During the Castle Howard event, Bradley’s Jewellers York also unveiled the unique one-of-a-kind Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Objet. This bespoke art-piece was created in close partnership with Fabergé Head of Design, Liisa Tallgren, who has brought to life Kay’s design concept. Whilst various pre-1917 Fabergé eggs feature birds, this is the first modern-day Fabergé piece showcasing a robin, making this something truly special for collectors. Kay is also proud to be the only independent female jeweller that Fabergé has partnered with on a contemporary egg and locket with a robin encased inside.
The Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Objet stands at 12.7 cm high, showcasing a variety of precious materials and techniques that reflect the skills of Fabergé Workmasters. The outer shell of the Egg shimmers with golden snowflakes, some dusted with diamonds, to capture the movement of falling snow in the wintertime. The Egg is perched on a fluted golden stem that is set with pearls and diamonds, leading the eye to a carved aventurine base in a festive shade of green.
Stepping through the doors of Castle Howard, guests were presented with installations by Charlotte Lloyd Webber Event Design and imitating the dog, as well as a Fabergé-inspired egg-shaped dessert designed by master chocolatier and UK Pastry Champion, Florian Poirot. One lucky attendee walked away with an 18ct gold Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Yorkshire Rose Egg Charm on an 18ct gold chain worth more than £5,000, as part of a celebratory prize-draw. Another surprise on the evening was a Fabergé x 007 Limited Edition Octopussy Egg Objet, which was presented to Yorkshire audiences at Castle Howard for the first time. With just 50 numbered pieces available to collectors, this 18k yellow gold objet is hand-painted with a rich green enamel that was carefully selected for its similarity to the enamel used on the Fabergé egg featured in the film Octopussy.
Bradley adds,
“Keeping this secret has been difficult, but it was so worth it to see the look on my guests’ faces when they saw this limited-edition piece from the Fabergé x 007 collection. This is a work of art and an incredible piece of storytelling that taps into perhaps the most-watched movie franchise of all time. To have this egg object at Castle Howard for the launch of the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket and Christmas Robin Egg object was the icing on the cake!”
Bradley’s Jewellers York began collaborating with the esteemed fine jewellery house Fabergé in 2022, commencing with the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Yorkshire Rose Egg Surprise Locket. Since then, the Yorkshire Rose collection has expanded to include the Yorkshire Rose Egg Charm, the Yorkshire Rose Brooch with Zambian emeralds, and two pairs of Yorkshire Rose Earrings. In 2023, Bradley also unveiled the Christmas Snowflake Egg Charm with brilliant-cut diamonds and enamel in 18ct gold.
Recent highlights include a Fabergé Egg ice sculpture with a robin ornament frozen inside at the York Ice Trail in February 2024, and a Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers York afternoon tea experience at York Minster Refectory in March 2024.
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Source: Bradley's Jewellers, York