Malcolm Forbes and his Faberge Imperial Egg Collection
Posted by Jess Dayuno on November 20th, 2008
The name “Forbes” is synonymous to wealth, luxury and power. And so, it is not surprising anymore that Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, former publisher of the very influential business/lifestyle magazine called Forbes Magazine, once owned the largest Faberge Imperial Egg Collection.
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes and His Faberge Collection
Photo Credit: WatchAmerica
Having been born into a wealthy and luxurious lifestyle, Mr. Forbes naturally were inclined to collect rare and extremely expensive items. His first Faberge acquisition was back in 1965. He bought the Duchess of Marlborough Egg at an astounding price that made him question himself if he overbid the item since he paid triple than the estimated value of the egg.
His love for the Russian treasures led him to Faberge experts. He was able to learn more about them and continued to acquire more. The following year after his first purchase, he then acquired three more: the 1894 Renaissance Egg, the Bay Tree Egg and the Fifteenth Anniversary Egg.
Malcolm Forbes’ fascination with the Faberge Eggs did not stop there. He kept on acquiring more and by 1990 he has all in all 9 exquisite and expensive Faberge Eggs in his collection. For a time, it was called the Imperial Egg Collection. However, later on it was proven that the Spring Flowers Egg and the Resurrection Egg were not Imperial Eggs.
Photo Credit: puzzle
Nevertheless, the Forbes Faberge Egg Collection was highly appreciated and envied throughout the entire art and antique world. Mr. Forbes was kind enough to loan his collection to the Russians back in 1990 to be showcased in an exhibit held in Moscow. Forbes knew that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance when other Faberge Eggs distributed around the world be in one place at one time just like during the Russian Tsar’s era.
When Mr. Malcolm Forbes died, his heirs decided to auction the Faberge collection. It was scheduled to be placed under the hammer April of 2004. When Victor Vekselberg, a Russian oil tycoon and art collector heard about it, he immediately arranged a private sale by paying $100 million for the whole collection.
The Forbes family issued a statement that their father, Malcolm would be very happy wherever he is, that the entire Forbes Faberge collection would be back to its original home reunited with other Faberge treasures that were unfortunately spread out around the globe because of Russia’s past political turmoil.
Today, it can be viewed and appreciated in the Armoury Kremlin in Moscow.