Igor Carl Agathonovich Fabergé was a haute couture designer and jeweller, born in Levashovo, near Saint Petersburg, in 1907. He fled Russia with his mother (Lydia Treuberg, the first wife of Agathon Carlovich Fabergé) and his brothers, crossing the frozen Gulf of Finland in December 1918.
The entire family went to Switzerland, where Igor Carl became a talented embroiderer, creating highly original evening gowns. He also created jewellery and fantastical objects. Many of these now belong to the Foundation’s permanent collection. Others are in private collections.
Igor Carl Fabergé was approached by the Franklin Mint company, which wished to produce small objects. He made the designs, and the items were then sold under his signature.
He then founded his own company in Switzerland, which produced around fifty objects in five years.
Having no descendants, he decided to create a foundation that would bear his name and would receive his shares and certificates after his death. The brand was taken over by McGregor, which was keen to increase its rights to “Fabergé-Parfums” by also registering the trademark for jewellery activities.
To date, the creativity of Igor Carl Fabergé has remained little known.
He died in Geneva in 1982. He is buried in Cannes with Carl Fabergé and Augusta Fabergé.
