For more than 25 years Carl Faberge and his firm served as jeweler and goldsmith to the tsars of Russia and other influential people. Here, straight from the St. Petersburg archives, jewelry expert Snowman reproduces hundreds of drawings and photographs (most in full color) from two newly discovered Faberge design books.

The chronological arrangement of 1,772 comprehensive citations are translated and annotated in English. Exhibition and auction dates, as well as auction prices are included. ...a work of scholarly significance...comprehensive, not to say exhaustive, and is well presented and easy to use... a most valuable tool.--REFERENCE REVIEWS ...One is filled with awe at the dedication that must have been needed to compile this work. --GEM AND JEWELRY NEWS