The Frick Art & Historical Center announces that in fall 2011 it will present the first major exhibition of Fabergé objects to be shown in Pittsburgh.

FabergeAtTheFrick.org, a new website that provides information about this special exhibition and related museum-wide offerings, launches today.

Opening October 23, 2011 and running through January 15, 2012, Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection features more than 100 objects made by the world-renowned House of Fabergé, goldsmith and jeweler to the Russian court. To complement this exhibition, the Frick will display select items from its collection of fine 18th- and 19th-century Russian decorative arts, including an enameled Russian tea set made by A.I. Kuzmichev, purchased by Henry Clay Frick through Tiffany & Co. in 1894, and Russian silver purchased by Helen Clay Frick.  The exhibition will be part of a unique site-wide Fabergé experience at the Frick that will include a special Fabergé Shop inspired by the opulent and glittering world of Fabergé and Russian decorative and folk art, as well as extended hours of operation, and much more. Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection is organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art. The Pittsburgh presentation is made possible through the generous support of First National Bank of Pennsylvania and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Says Frick Art & Historical Center Director Bill Bodine, "The Frick is proud to present Pittsburgh's first major exhibition of Fabergé objects this fall. Decorative arts are a very important component of our collection, and this exhibition provides us with the exciting opportunity to share a selection of rarely seen pieces while examining and enjoying the brilliance of one of the world's finest manufacturers of luxury objects. Fabergé represents the high quality craftsmanship and ingenuity that flourished around the turn of the 20th century-the time the Frick family resided at Clayton."

As part of the Frick's site-wide celebration of Fabergé, a special installation at Clayton, All That Glitters: Luxury in the Gilded Age, will focus on decorative luxury objects in the collection manufactured by firms such as Tiffany; Gorham; and Bailey, Banks and Biddle, presenting the objects in the context of the larger story of Gilded Age life. In addition, three automobiles designed by renowned motor car manufacturer Rolls-Royce will be exhibited at the Car and Carriage Museum.

The Frick will also offer a wide and diverse schedule of programs focusing on the history, craftsmanship and legacy of the House of Fabergé and the fascinating period in Russian history during which the exhibition pieces were created. These programs range from lectures and gallery talks for adults and families to hands-on activities for children and an Act 48 workshop for teachers.

Visitors to the Frick will have the opportunity to view the exhibition and take part in Fabergé-related activities during extended hours of operation. The entire site will remain open until 9 p.m. on Thursday evenings beginning October 27, 2011.

About the Exhibition, Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection

Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection is composed of select works from The Hodges Family Collection, one of the most important private collections of Fabergé in the United States. Assembled by American collector Daniel L. Hodges over the past two decades, the collection contains objects ranging from photograph frames, tableware, desk accessories, boxes, clocks, and jewelry to cigarette cases and smoking accessories. All of the works included in this exhibition illustrate the consummate skill of the House of Fabergé and its inimitable use of precious and semi-precious materials to create luxury objects of the highest order. Among the many highlights of the Hodges Family Collection is The Bismarck Box, the first major imperial commission made by Fabergé and the only imperial portrait presentation box set with an image of Alexander III.

The Allure of Fabergé

Goldsmith and jeweler to the Russian imperial court, The House of Fabergé created objects that reflected the cosmopolitan world and sophisticated taste of its patrons. The story of Fabergé is one of luxury and extravagance brought to an abrupt end by revolution. In 1918, following the establishment of the Bolshevik Soviet Republic, Peter Carl Fabergé and most of his family escaped to Switzerland. Many of Fabergé's wealthy Russian patrons also fled the country, taking what treasures they could with them. In the years since, as objects have made their way into auction houses and marketplaces, the allure of Fabergé has only grown, as collectors have sought out his spectacular and fascinating creations.

Exhibition Catalogue

Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection is accompanied by a sumptuous 310-page catalogue. This hardcover volume was edited and co-authored by the late John Webster Keefe, the RosaMary Foundation Curator of the Decorative Arts at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Published by the New Orleans Museum of Art, the catalogue is filled with beautifully photographed images of the items in the exhibition and essays that present the fascinating stories behind them. It also includes contributions from noted Fabergé authority and author Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé bibliographer and author Christel Ludewig McCanless, and Fabergé expert Kieran McCarthy. The price of the catalogue is $58.80 for Frick members: non-members' price: $65. The catalogue is currently available for purchase at the Frick's Museum Shop, located in the Visitor Center.

FabergeAtTheFrick.org

A new website that provides information about the exhibition and wide range of Fabergé-related activities at the Frick launches on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The site, FabergeAtTheFrick.org, includes a behind-the-scenes blog, on which a broad range of topics related to the exhibition and planning the site-wide celebration will be discussed. From curatorial stories to Fabergé Shop merchandise selections and details regarding public programs, FabergeAtTheFrick.org will serve as the central source of information for all of the Frick's exciting activities to come this fall.

The Fabergé Shop

The opulent and glittering world of Fabergé and Russian decorative and folk art provide the inspiration for The Fabergé Shop, which will be open at The Frick Art Museum during the exhibition. The Fabergé Shop will offer a wide variety of merchandise, including books, jewelry, home décor, Russian folk art, and holiday decorations. A selection of Fabergé-related merchandise, including the exhibition catalogue, is currently available for purchase at the Frick's Museum Shop, located in the Visitor Center. Frick members receive a 10% discount on Museum Shop and Fabergé Shop purchases.

The Café at the Frick

During the run of the Fabergé exhibition, The Café at the Frick's ambience will evoke Russia at the turn of the 20th century. Its menu will feature several Russian-inspired options, and Russian beer and a number of premium Russian vodkas will be available. In addition to regular hours of operation, The Café will remain open until 9:00 p.m. each Thursday between October 27, 2011 and January 12, 2012, along with the rest of the site. Two dinner seating times will be offered on those evenings.

Group Tours and Event Rentals

The Frick will offer group tours during Fabergé at the Frick, including tours that combine visits to Clayton with tours of Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection at The Frick Art Museum. For groups of 12 or fewer, a lunch at The Café at the Frick may be arranged, pending availability.

The Frick also offers a variety of options for business and private event rentals. Interested parties should contact Sylvia Ehler, Group Sales and Rental Events Coordinator, at 412-371-0600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            412-371-0600      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, ext. 658.

A Very Special Celebration

On Friday, October 21, the terrace of The Frick Art Museum will be transformed into a Russian-inspired party to celebrate Fabergé at the Frick. The very special opening night celebration will feature a strolling dinner, followed by dessert in the museum's rotunda and the first private preview of the extraordinary exhibition, Fabergé: The Hodges Family Collection.  

Fabergé at the Frick will be an elegant and delightful evening shared by people who have a love of art and history. This event will highlight the Frick's exhibition program and at the same time generate vital funds to support the museum's many community programs. For more information about this event, or to purchase tickets, the public may contact Kathi Connelly, External Affairs Assistant, at 412-371-0600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            412-371-0600      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, ext. 584.

For additional information or images, please contact Greg Langel, Media and Marketing Manager, at 412-371-0600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            412-371-0600      end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 524 or GLangel@TheFrickPittsburgh.org.

The Frick Art & Historical Center, a museum, historic site and cultural center, serves the public through preservation, presentation, and interpretation of the fine and decorative arts and historically significant artifacts for all residents of and visitors to Western Pennsylvania.