If you’re a Fabergé enthusiast, then you’ll know that seeing Gems of the Medici before it closes Sunday at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is a MUST! For those of you who have a passing knowledge of Fabergé, let me give you the scoop:

When Peter Carl Fabergé was born, it was already known, by his father, that he would become a jewelry maker. August Fabergé had started a relatively small jewelry enterprise that he hoped his sons would take over.

As Carl grew into a young man, he was sent across Europe to learn the art of goldsmithing. While this was very interesting to Carl, he found one of his real passions in the art of hardstone carving. While visiting Florence, Italy, Carl stopped at several workshops that specialized in hardstone carvings — workshops originally founded by the Medici patriarchs.

The Medici were insistent that Florence become the Mecca of the art world, which included stone and precious gem work. They became patrons of artisans and began workshops for others to practice their craft and learn the essentials of artistry. The Medici went as far as providing their own collection of cameos and hardstone carvings for young artists to study and replicate.

Two centuries later, these workshops were still functioning as they had been originally intended. Carl Fabergé was just one of many who took advantage of what was offered and learned techniques that would eventually be seen in his jewelry. Carl used what he learned at the Medici-founded workshops to turn simple jewelry and hardstones into works of art that were not only functional, in some cases, but admired and desired.

Visit Gems of the Medici at the Houston Museum of Natural Science before it closes this Sunday, March 31 and see the works of art that inspired Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision!