When most people hear the name Fabergé, they immediately picture those glittering, multi-million dollar imperial eggs commissioned by the Romanovs. It’s a natural association. But for serious collectors and those who grew up with a certain kind of luxury decor in the late 20th century, the House of Fabergé The Nativity collection holds a totally different kind of fascination.
It’s complicated.
First, we have to clear something up. If you’re looking for a Nativity set made by Peter Carl Fabergé himself before the 1917 Russian Revolution, you’re basically chasing a ghost. The original House of Fabergé didn't really do "sets" in the way we think of them today. Most of what you see on the secondary market now—the hand-painted porcelain, the gold accents, the Franklin Mint collaborations—comes from a specific era of brand licensing that started decades after the original workshop closed its doors.
But does that make them "fake"? Not exactly. It makes them part of a weird, beautiful, and sometimes confusing legacy of a brand name that has traveled through more hands than a sourdough starter.
The Franklin Mint Connection and Why It Matters
Back in the 1980s and 90s, the House of Fabergé name was licensed for various high-end collectibles. This is where the House of Fabergé The Nativity porcelain series was born. Honestly, these weren't just mass-produced junk. They were often crafted in fine bisque porcelain, hand-decorated, and fired with 24-karat gold accents.
Collectors go nuts for the "Kylin" or the "Imperial" series.
The detail on these figures is actually pretty staggering when you hold them. You’ve got the Three Kings—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar—dripping in robes that look like they were woven from silk, even though they’re hard ceramic. The hallmark of a genuine House of Fabergé Nativity piece from this era is the stamp on the bottom. It usually features the Fabergé crest, often mentioning the Franklin Mint as the distributor.
People sometimes look down on "collector plate" style brands, but the market value for these specific Nativity pieces has stayed surprisingly resilient. Why? Because they stopped making them. You can't just walk into a store and buy a new one. You have to hunt.
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What actually makes a Nativity "Fabergé"?
It’s the aesthetic. Even if Peter Carl wasn’t hunched over a workbench in St. Petersburg painting the face of the Virgin Mary on these specific pieces, the designers stayed remarkably true to the "Old World" Russian style. Think heavy opulence.
You’ll see:
- Elaborate scrolling patterns that mimic the guilloché enamel work of the 19th century.
- Deep, "imperial" colors like cobalt blue, crimson, and forest green.
- Tiny, intricate facial features that don't look like the generic "willow tree" style figures popular today.
These sets were designed to be heirlooms. They were sold piece-by-piece, which is why finding a complete set today is such a massive headache for collectors. Most families bought the Holy Family first, then added a shepherd one year, a camel the next. Somewhere along the way, a box gets lost in an attic, or a donkey’s ear gets chipped.
Finding the full House of Fabergé The Nativity lineup in mint condition is like winning a very specific, very dusty lottery.
The Rarity Factor: Why Some Pieces Cost More Than Your Car
If you start scouring eBay or high-end estate sales, you’ll notice a weird price gap. A Mary or Joseph might go for $100. But then you’ll see a specific camel or an angel listed for $1,200.
Supply and demand is a cruel mistress.
In the original production runs, the "accessory" pieces—the animals, the stable background, the peripheral shepherds—were produced in much lower quantities than the central figures. Everyone wanted the Baby Jesus. Not everyone wanted to shell out 1992-dollars for a porcelain ox. Fast forward thirty years, and those "boring" animals are now the "grail" pieces that collectors need to finish their display.
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Also, let's talk about the porcelain itself. Bisque porcelain is porous and notoriously fragile. Unlike glazed ceramic, which has a protective shiny coat, bisque has a matte, skin-like texture. It’s gorgeous, but it’s a magnet for dust and oils from your hands. If someone displayed their House of Fabergé The Nativity near a fireplace for twenty years, the soot can actually bond with the porcelain.
Cleaning these requires a level of patience most of us just don't have. You’re looking at distilled water, mild baby soap, and Q-tips. One wrong move with a chemical cleaner and you’ve just stripped the 24k gold leaf off Melchior’s crown.
Spotting the Real Deal in a Sea of Knockoffs
Because the Fabergé name is so iconic, there are plenty of "Fabergé-style" Nativity sets out there. They look okay from a distance, but the quality drop-off is steep once you get close.
Real House of Fabergé The Nativity pieces have a specific weight to them. They feel dense. If it feels like cheap plastic or hollow, thin ceramic, walk away. Look at the eyes. One of the biggest tells of a genuine piece is the "eye-line." In high-end porcelain, the eyes are painted with tiny, precise pupils that actually look like they’re focusing on something. Cheap knockoffs usually have "dead" eyes or slightly lopsided painting.
Then there's the mark. A legitimate piece will almost always have a backstamp. It should say "House of Fabergé" and often includes a year and a serial number or a limited edition notation.
The Mystery of the "Jeweled" Eggs
Some versions of the House of Fabergé The Nativity aren't figures at all. They are Nativity eggs. This is where the brand really leans into its roots.
These are typically musical or mechanical eggs that open up to reveal a tiny, sculpted Nativity scene inside. They are often made of pewter or lead crystal and decorated with Swarovski crystals. These were particularly popular in the late 90s. They’re less of a "Christmas decoration" and more of a year-round display piece for people who live for the aesthetic of the Tsars.
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The "Star of the North" egg is a prime example. It’s not just a Nativity; it’s a piece of engineering. You wind it up, the music plays (usually "Silent Night" or "O Holy Night"), and the internal scene rotates. It’s kitschy to some, but to a certain generation, it represents the absolute peak of holiday elegance.
How to Value Your Collection Without Getting Ripped Off
If you’ve inherited a set or found one at a thrift store, don't just look at the highest "Buy It Now" price on eBay. That’s a trap. Look at "Sold" listings.
A complete 12-piece House of Fabergé The Nativity set in the original boxes can easily fetch between $2,500 and $5,000 depending on the specific series. The "Imperial" series, with its darker colors and heavier gold work, tends to command a premium over the lighter, more pastel versions.
Condition is everything.
- Mint: No chips, no "crazing" (tiny cracks in the finish), and original foam-lined boxes.
- Excellent: No visible damage but no boxes.
- Fair: Minor repairs. (Note: A repaired Fabergé piece loses about 60% of its market value instantly).
Honestly, if you have a piece with a broken finger or a chipped robe, it’s often better to leave it alone than to try a DIY superglue job. Professional restoration is expensive, but for a piece worth several hundred dollars, it might be worth the investment.
Why We Still Care About These Pieces
In a world of disposable plastic decorations from big-box stores, there's something genuinely grounding about a set that requires this much care. The House of Fabergé The Nativity represents a weird slice of history—a time when the bridge between "high art" and "home decor" was crossed by a legendary Russian brand name.
It’s about the ritual. Wrapping each figure in acid-free tissue paper at the end of the season. Carefully placing the Star of Bethlehem atop the display. These sets aren't just objects; they’re memories of a specific kind of 20th-century luxury that felt attainable yet special.
Whether you’re a devout collector or just someone who appreciates the insane level of detail that goes into hand-painted porcelain, these pieces remain the gold standard for holiday displays. They remind us that some things are worth the effort of preservation.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you're looking to start or complete your collection, here is how you should actually spend your time and money:
- Verify the Backstamp: Before buying, always ask for a high-resolution photo of the bottom of the piece. Look for the "TFM" (The Franklin Mint) or "House of Fabergé" official script.
- Check for "Crazing": Hold the piece up to a bright light. If you see what looks like a spiderweb of tiny cracks under the surface, the porcelain has been exposed to extreme temperature changes. This lowers the value significantly.
- Buy the Animals First: It sounds counter-intuitive, but if you see the camel, the donkey, or the sheep from the House of Fabergé The Nativity series for a reasonable price, buy them immediately. They are much harder to find than the Holy Family.
- Invest in Museum Wax: When displaying your figures, use a tiny dot of museum wax (QuakeHold) on the bottom. It prevents them from tipping over if the table is bumped, saving you from a heartbreaking and expensive breakage.
- Storage is Key: Never store these in a garage or an uninsulated attic. The heat will cause the gold leaf to flake over time and the cold can make the porcelain brittle. Keep them in a climate-controlled closet.