Diplomatic World_nummer 57

Fabergé Heritage Pendants (002)
THEODORE FABERGÉ (1922-2007)
Theodore (known as Theo) was a Grandson of Peter
Carl Fabergé. He was not raised by his parents Doris
Cladish and Nicholas Fabergé but by his maternal aunt
and her husband as if he were their own son. It was not
until a great aunt suggested that he obtains a copy of
his birth certificate years later, that Theo discovered his
true identity. At 47, his ‘aunt’ became his mother and
his ‘mother’ his aunt. He was no longer Theo Woodall
(his aunt and uncle’s name) but Theo Fabergé. He had
always excelled at fine instrument making, engineering
design and craftwork. Naturally creative and artistic
this newly found knowledge answered many questions
for Theo. He set out to learn all he could about
silversmithing and ornamental woodturning. With his
career background these skills came naturally to him.
In 1974, he sold his successful engineering business
and began to earn a living restoring antiques and
creating objets d’art. He excelled at ornamental turning
and entered a box made to commemorate the Silver
Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II into the 1978 annual
competition of the Worshipful Company of Turners. He
was awarded the Lady Gertrude Crawford Medal, which
is the highest award for ornamental turning. He was
also granted the honour of Freeman Prizeman of the
Turners Company. This honour had not been bestowed
for 22 years; the medal had not been awarded for nine.
In 1984 he entered a life-long contract to design for the
Saint Petersburg Collection. At the age of 80, Theo’s
lifetime achievements were once again recognised by
The Worshipful Company of Turners and this time he
was made an honorary liveryman of the Company. Sadly,
Theo’s health deteriorated rapidly from the age of 80
onwards. He was, however, delighted to learn that the
Fabergé trademarks had been secured from Unilever by
a group wanting to restore Fabergé’s original heritage of
excellence in creativity, design and craftsmanship, and
with his daughter Sarah he agreed to become a founding
member of the Fabergé Heritage Council. He passed
away shortly afterwards in August 2007.
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