A Scrap Metal Dealer Found a Tsar's Treasure and Didn't Know It | Raiders of the Lost Art Ep. 2

In 1885, Tsar Alexander III commissioned a jeweller named Carl Fabergé to create an Easter gift for his wife, the Empress Maria Feodorovna. What followed was one of the most extraordinary patronage relationships in the history of decorative art: 50 imperial eggs created over three decades, each one a masterpiece of goldsmithing commissioned exclusively for the Russian imperial family. Then, in 1917, the Russian Revolution brought the Romanov dynasty to a violent end, and with it came the scattering, looting, and disappearance of Fabergé's greatest works. This episode traces the fate of the Imperial Fabergé eggs across a century of war, revolution, and exile, focusing on the remarkable rediscovery of the so called Third Imperial Egg. Thought lost for generations, it resurfaced in 2014 when an American scrap metal dealer, unaware of its true origin, walked into the London jewellers Wartski carrying photographs of an object he had bought for its gold value alone. The episode also examines the seven Imperial eggs that remain missing to this day, and the historical detective work being done to trace them. #FreeDocumentary #HistoricalDocs #FullFreeMovies #arthistory #Art Welcome to Historical Docs, your gateway to a captivating journey through time. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of human history as we present full-length, high-quality documentaries that explore a vast range of eras, timelines, and remarkable individuals from every corner of the world. From epic wars and battles that shaped nations to groundbreaking historical discoveries, our free channel brings you the stories that have shaped our collective past. We delve deep into the chronicles of history, unravelling the narratives and shedding light on the triumphs, struggles, and pivotal moments that have shaped our world. Subscribe to our channel, and join us as we uncover the fascinating human civilizations of times past and embark on an enlightening exploration of our shared heritage.