Google doodles Peter Carl Faberge

Google has unleashed its latest doodle, this time celebrating the 166th anniversary of Peter Carl Faberge, the chap whose firm produced the very intricate, expensive eggs.

The Russian jeweller was born in 1846, in Saint Petersburg, the son of a jeweller. Carl soon took over the running of the family business in his twenties, becoming a master goldsmith after having received expert tuition from goldsmiths in France, Germany and England. He took over the business along with his brother Agathon who was a talented designer.

Initially, the pair produced copies of ancient Russian treasures which they sold, pieces that were commended for their accuracy and likeness to the original.

Carl Faberge didn’t actually produce any of the famous gold and gem inlaid eggs, however, as master jewellers in his employment fashioned these famous specimens.

After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks took over the Faberge company and nationalised it in 1918, with Carl forced to flee the country. He passed away shortly after, in Switzerland in 1920.

The doodle is a simple picture of a range of the eggs, which have the letters of the Google logo hidden inside them (with just the G and the E showing).

It isn’t quite as fancy as Google’s last effort, a fully interactive Moog synthesiser which could be played. It had adjustable switches and knobs, plus a recording facility – and a boast that the doodle worked best on Chrome, a fact we’re likely to be seeing pointed out more and more with future doodles.