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 Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:02 pm
August 21st 2004 Wrote: It is difficult to explain the cataclysms that have prevented me from continuing my research. Perhaps some time soon I can make sense of it myself. Needless to say, I have returned and returned with the artifact in hand! Now instead of merely guessing, I can examine it with my own eyes. However, to try to find out when this undated artifact fits in the timeline of the Romanovs, if indeed it does at all, I must continue to catalogue all known eggs. 1890 : Danish Palaces egg : Presented by Alexander III to Czarina Maria Fyodorovna. Utilizing gold, enamel, diamond, sapphire, emerald , this egg appears a salmon pink externally, crossbanded by gold and gems.Inside is the surprise, a folding screen of 10 miniatures painted by Krijitski in 1890, framed in multi-colored gold is recessed within the egg. Painted on mother-of-pearl, eight of the ten panels depict palaces and residences that Princess Dagmar had known in her native Denmark before she married Alexander in 1866. The first and last miniatures are of yachts. One can only imagine the nostalgia this would have encouraged in the Denmark born empress. 1891 : Memory of Azov egg : Hearkening more towards the overly ornate Rococco style of art...this egg was made out of solid jasper, lined with velvet inside and containing a miniature replicate of the ship Azov. 1892 : Diamond Trellis egg : Obviously named for the unique pattern on its external surface, the bowenite body of the egg was set at the top and bottom with a diamond from which emanate sixteen intertwining trellis of silver and platinum set with rose-cut diamonds. The base, now lost, was composed of a silver group on a round pale-green stone slab representing three little silver cherubs holding the egg; the three boys were said to represent the three young sons of the Imperial couple. The egg has a space for the figure of the elephant and a key for winding it. 1893 : Caucasus egg : Varicolored gold garlands held by diamond bow-knots mount this gold egg, overlaid with ruby enamel. A table-top diamond, gem-encircled, crowns the object; another completes the base. Nicholas' younger brother Georg was the obvious focus of this egg, a reminder of their mother of the tuberculosis stricken brother and his retreat. 1894 : Renaissance egg : This egg was the last to be given to Maria by Alexander before his death. Carved from a block of milky chalcedony, this egg, mounted on a gold enameled base, was closely modeled after an eighteenth century casket by Le Roy, now located in Dresden at the Grüne Gewölbe Museum. Given its name by the very approach made to create it, done in a very renaissaince style. Fancy and lineal patterns are combined in the gold trelliswork with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. At each trellis intersection there is a grouping of diamonds with a ruby center. Diamonds on the cover enclose a ruby enameled medallion in colorful enamels and the date, 1894, set in rose diamonds. Gold lions' heads at either end terminate slender loop handles. One of the few Imperial eggs that Fabergé dated, the last of the eggs for Czar Alexander III, rests on a golden base with enamelled palmettes, flowers and leaves in brilliant, translucent reds, greens, blues, opaque white and gold. The surprise that originally came with the egg was lost, it was probably a grand jewel. 1895 : Twelve Monograms egg (Aka Silver anniversary egg): The Twelve Monograms egg was the first Fabergé egg given by Czar Nicholas to his mother. Featuring in diamonds the royal insignia of Czar Alexander III set against a deep blue enamel background. This of course, being quite proper for an empress that had just lost her husband. 1895 : Rosebud egg : the Imperial Rosebud Egg is the first egg to be presented by Nicholas II to his wife Alexandra on Easter 1895. It is also one of the smallest of the Imperial Eggs. A deep red egg sectioned by rows of diamonds. Gold laurel swags that are pendants from rosecut diamonds and wreaths, Cupid's arrows and ribbons embellish the egg. A miniature of Nicholas II surmounts the egg. heavily taken from http://www.andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fab/fab00.html
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:04 pm
August 21st Wrote:
Having spent lunch at a nearby cafe, I return refreshed and driven to make up for lost time. Continuing to flip through the documents that have amassed on my work-table, I try to categorize my thoughts and timeline the eggs.
1896 : Alexander III egg : No Information discovered
1896 : Revolving Miniatures egg : (aka rock crystal egg) : Banded in diamonds and translucent emerald enamel, it is surmounted by a rare Siberian emerald. On a plinth of rock crystal, the double spheroid base in contrastyly colorful enamels, twice circled with diamonds, is designed with monograms of the Tsarina, as the Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt, before her marriage, and later as Aleksandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia.
1897 : Mauve Enamel egg (aka Rabbit egg) mauve enamel ground is overlaid with gold banding, colored in three of gold, sapphire and blue enamel, inlaid with jewels.
1897 : Coronation egg : gold egg enamelled translucent lime yellow on a field of starbursts and is highly reminiscnet of the gold robe worn by the empress at her Coronation. Has greenish gold laurel leaves mounted at each intersection by an Imperial double-headed eagle.
1898 : Lilies of the Valley egg : One of the familiar Art Noveau style eggs, a break from the ornate Roccoco style. Gold egg enameled rose covered with gold-stemmed flowers made of pearls, diamonds and rubies
1898 : Pelican egg (1897? AKA Dowager egg) : Another break from tradition. This egg is not enamled. The egg is made of gold and the ornaments are engraved with the dates "1797-1897"; and with the motifs of the Arts and Sciences. Surmounting the egg is a pelican feeding her young, an emblem of motherhood.
1899 : Pansy egg : This egg stands on tinted gold twisted leaves from which stem five flowers and five buds of pansy enameled in violet in various nuances. One wonders if the 5 indicate the five imperial children, Tatiana, Olga, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei. Of course, that is mere fancy, as Alexei would not be born until 1904 icon_smile.gif
1899 : Bouquet of Lilies Clock egg (Aka clock egg, aka Madonna lilly egg) The egg is patterned as a clock and both the body of the egg and its rectangular pedestal are decorated with translucen enamel. The dial on the clock revolves, and egg is crowned with the aforementioned lillies.
1900 : Cockerel egg : (aka cuckoo egg) A baroque-styled Egg, fashioned as a table clock Enameled white and violet and set with pearls and rose diamonds. The egg is topped by the titled "Cuckoo"
1900 : Trans-Siberian Railway egg : a translucent green enamelled gold Easter egg decorated with colored enamel and mounted on an onyx base. Engraved in silver on the egg is a map of the route this train takes.
1901 : Gatchina Palace egg : Translucent enameld, lined with pearls and with the image of simple and elegant bows on the surface, this egg seems somewhat restrained when placed against its contemporaries.
1901 : Basket of Wild Flowers egg :An egg within an egg almost. Framed in an egg shaped outline, a plethora of flowers spring from a simple white egg, with ornate trellisses that weave about it as a basket. Interestingly enough, this egg, unlike the others, is designed larger side upward. Supported on what appears to be a blue enamelled base.
1902 : Empire Nephrite egg No data found
1902 : Clover egg : It is impossible to not recognize this egg due to the criss crossed patterns of 3 leaf clovers, with the occassional diamond encrusted clover. The entire egg is covered with them.
1903 : Danish Jubilee egg No data found
1903 : Peter the Great egg : In lavish Rococo style, done in gold, and encrusted with rubies and diamonds. The Egg design features a representation of the Winter Palace. This egg saw the Tsar in a troubled time in his reign. Not the first, and not the last. Hearkening back to a time of Peter the Great, this was nostalgia and patriotism at its best.
1904: Chanticleer Egg: The second largest Fabergé egg known. A blue enamelled egg topped with a Rooster. A clock face adorns it front and it sports a golden rectangular base.
1906 : Moscow Kremlin egg : (aka Uspenski Cathedral Egg) The largest of the eggs, this is a model of the Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspenski) in the Moscow Kremlin.
1906 : Swan egg : Enamelled in sky translucent-mauve, is decorated with a trellis of ribbons encrusted in brilliants and with a diamond set at each end. Another deceptively simple looking egg. It contains within a swan in a basket.
1907 : Rose Trellis egg : A rose enamelled egg criscrossed with diamond trellises and decorated with vinelike gold and enamelled green leaves.
1907 : Cradle with Garlands egg (aka Love Trophy Egg): Information on this egg is think, to appearance, it seems to be enamelled sky blue, and unlike other eggs, is laying on its side, a basket of flowers on it's top. Garlands are on both the egg, and draped on the base.
1908 : Alexander Palace egg : nephrite egg, a lesser quality of jade. It is adorned with five miniature watercolor portraits of the children of emperor Nicholas II, framed in rose-cut diamonds.
1908 : Peacock egg : Transluscent egg containing a 3-d recreation of a peacock within it. On an irregular base.
1909 : Standart egg : Another transluscent egg, inside is a replica of the royal yacht, the Standart
1909 : Alexander II Commemorative egg : no data known
1910 : Alexander III Equestrian egg : This egg egg is carved out of rock-quartz crystal, engraved with two tied laurel leaf sprays. A large diamond on the egg engraved with the year "1910". The diamond is set in band of small roses. The two platinum double-headed eagles on the sides of the egg have diamond crowns. Another clear egg, within is the figure of Alexander III astride a trusy golden mount.
1910 : Colonnade egg : It is a piece surmounted by a silver-gilt Cupid on a dome of pink enamel around which is a series of numbers in rose diamonds.
1911 : Bay Tree egg : (aka Orange tree egg) : The design of the Orange Tree Egg differs from the others. The foliage of the tree forms the egg shape, more round rather than oval, which rests on a trunk that stands in a nephrite base, connected by swags of green enamel leaves and pearl.
1911 : Fifteenth Anniversary egg : The opalescent and opaque white enamel egg is encased within a grid-shaped cage work of gold and green enamel oval-shaped, Each grid encases a different and nostalgic piece. Quite the most reminiscing of all the eggs.
1912 : Czarevich egg : lapis lazuli and ornamented with with gold. It was topped with a tabletop diamond showing the initials of the Czarina, the Imperial crown, and the year (1912). The bottom is set with a large diamond. A large double headed eagle adorns this work.
1912 : Napoleonic egg : This egg commemorates Russia's victory over the armies of Napoleon in 1812. Double-headed eagles and battle trophies embellish the green shell.
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:09 pm
August 21st Wrote:
I find that now that I near the end of my list, that I cannot, nor do I want to stop. My attention already wanders more away from the known and trickles to the unknown. I wonder what Hari would think of her "stick in the mud" student did she know this.
1913 : Winter egg : a rock-crystal base formed as a block of melting ice, the rock-crystal egg held vertically above it. The transparent body of the egg is engraved to simulate ice crystals.
1913 : Romanov Tercentenary egg : The gold egg, faced with white transparent enamel, is decorated with stwo-headed eagles, crowns and wreaths. Around the egg, are eighteen miniature portraits of the tsars of the House of Romanov, from Michael Fyodorovich, to Nicholas II. These are in round diamond frames, painted in watercolor on ivory.
1914 : Mosaic egg : Platinum mesh body set with numerous calibrated precious and semiprecious stones. Designed as it is named...in a mosaic.
1914 : Grisaille egg : (aka Catherine the great egg) : Pink enamelled egg inlaid on a golden egg. Paintings done in monochrome in the enamelled areas.
1915 : Red Cross egg with Imperial Portraits : Reflecting the fact that war had broken out, this egg was understandably austere compared to its earlier compatriots. While still made with gold, silver, enamel, mother of pearl, ivory, diamonds, rock cristal, and pearl, the look and tone of this egg was quite reserved.
1915 : Red Cross egg with Triptych : Wartime economy prevailed in the making of this. Done in silver, glass, enamel and gold, there are now ornately designed patterns or clever little tricks to it. Its front adorned with red crosses are embellished with portraits of Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana.
1916 : Steel Military egg : The steel egg, with gold patterns surmounted by a gold crown, rests on four artillery shells. Made with Steel, some gold and Nephrite, the squeeze on resources is evident.
1916 : Order of St. George egg : The white enamel egg is painted with a green enamel trellis which frames St. George crosses in white and red enamel. There is the portrait of Czar Nicholas II in profile. This was the only egg to leave Russia in the hands of its proper owner. She would take this with her when the Dowanger Empress fled the shambles of her son's Russia.
These last two eggs were never delivered to their intended recipients...
1917: The constellation egg: An incomplete work. The "Constellation Egg" was designed by Faberge himself. The parts are a ball of dark blue glass (it should be a Louis XVI clock) and was supposed to show the constellation during the Tsarewitch's birth. The ball is held by a white cloud made of quartz with little angels.
Theses parts were recently found stored in the Fersman Museum
1917: Birch egg: The egg is made of Karelian birch rather than the usual gold and precious gems. Surrounded in the center with a simple gold band. A sad denouncement to the fate of the monarchy. Reduced to the stuff of trees and grass.
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:10 pm
Quote: *XiaoRen walks into Chaeval's hotel room at the Polkovskaya and peeks over her shoulder, where she is scritching frantically into her journal, books on Faberge littering the table.* "Holy Crap." *his eyes start to water at the sheer number of dates and he whines in the back of his throat.*
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:14 pm
Starting she looks up, a pile of books clattering to the floor amidst her startled squeal. A very un-professional word passes through her lips as she surveys the tattered remnants of her papermill empire.
Sighing she rubs her eyes. "What time is it? Did you need something, Xiao?"
Turning her attention away, she knelt down and began rebuilding her less than sturdy mountains of books. Noone needed to tell her that they were merely being set up to fall over again, but she hadn't the room to do otherwise.
Pulling out some rough sketches she had done of the egg, she pointed out some of the points that she was investigating.
"I was trying to timeline this egg, amongst the others. Im working under the assumption that it's a Russian Imperial merely because of where we found it, and the ties to the Russian nobility already provided. Obviously I couldn't bring it here, so I did some quick sketches.
The points so far are
1) The "theme" of the egg is nostalgic. But not in any apparently obvious natiionalist way. Faberge's work on the imperial eggs followed the themes of the monarchy...militant and austere in war time, and flowery and ornate and decadent in the peace times. Since many of his eggs were not dated, and there is no mention of this egg in any of the documents I solicited from the office of Faberge and the historical archives, the only way to place it would be through the theme. It's not exact, but there's no help for it.
2) The base is irregular. This is not of itself overly unusual, just something noted. I have to compare to the other eggs, but I think Faberge used a lot of rectangular or symmetric bases. This one is neither.
3) The materials constructed are reminiscent of Faberge. He revolutionized the use of enameling a base egg. This egg looks like a blue enamel and a darker blue enamel was applied in an almost sponged pattern. The egg itself is very likely gold, but that hasn't been tested yet. There is a sort of carved stone at the top of the egg, a semiprecious stone likely, with the large sapphire in the center and two smaller sapphires attached by a braiding of gold. There is a leaf pattern,also apparently enamelled, and a claw that comprises the base. Considering the "surprise" I would hasten to say it was a chicken foot."
Leaning back, she stared at the other. "That's my first over of the actual artifact. I hope to get back there and take a harder look, and even have a camera on hand to develope some pictures."
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:17 pm
Quote: *Xiao looks chagrinned at startling her. He runs a hand through his hair.* "It looks great so far. I hadn't know that most Faberge bases were of regular shape, though he was so particular that I guess it makes sense. There were several Faberge right, like a family? Do you think this is by the first man himself, or someone later?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:19 pm
"Absolutely." Chae nods. "Dealing with a firm as large as Faberge...and with clients that included kings and queens...obviously one man could not do it all."
Turning in her chair she faces the other with a grin on her face. It was obvious she was enjoying this topic. "My recollection may be a bit fuzzy, but here goes... The Faberge family were originally from France. Huguenots. They fled to Germany and after several lifetimes, to Russia.
The list is immense, but in Moscow, the objects were always signed by K. Faberge in Cyrillic. But in St. Petersburg, the individual Workmaster had the right to sign his objects with a mark showing his initials next to the mark of the firm. So at least for the St. Petersburg pieces, it is easier to track it back to the specific person that worked on the object. " Turning about, she snagged a sheaf of paper from the stack, unerringly choosing the one she needed.
"The following people were known to have worked with Faberge.
Johan Victor Aarne, he worked alot on gold and silver objects, often enamelled.
Fedor Afanassiev worked on small things, enamelled. Things like mini eggs, frames and cigarette cases.
Karl Gustav Hjalmar Armfeldt, he bought Victor Aarne's workshop and made enamelled objects.
Andrej Gorianov, took over from Reimer and made small gold and enamelled objects.
August Fredrik Hollming mainly did small boxes and occasionally jewelry. His son August Vaino Hollming took over for his father in 1913
August, Wilhelm Holmstrom had his own shop and was head jeweler. He is recorded as the maker of the 1892 Diamond Trellis Egg, in fact. His son Alvert took over in 1903. His daughter Hilma Alina worked as a jeweller and designer for Faberge. Another daughter married a workmaster.
Erik August Kollin worked exclusively for Faberge, although he had his own shop. He was eventually put in charge of all teh Faberge shops, but was replaced by Michael Perchin. He specialized in gold and silver articles.
Karl Gustav Johansson worked for Faberge's Odessa branch. He was not recorded as a qualified master worker.
Anders Michelsson was a master goldsmith and jeweller. He worked on the smaller objects of gold and enamel.
Anders, Johan Nevalainen, also worked exclusively for Faberge, but then on his own. He made small silver and gold enamelled objects.
Gabriel Zachariasson Niukkanen had his own workshop, he only worked occasionally for Faberge, making cigarette cases.
Michael Eviampievich Perchin was legendary in the world of Faberge. He headed all the workshops from 1886 until his death. He was responsible for all the Imperial Easter eggs made from 1886 until 1903.
Knut Oskar Pihl made only small jewelery pieces. But his daughter Alma Teresia Pihl was responsible for the design of the 1913 Winter Egg and the 1914 Mosaic egg.
Julius Alexandrovich Rappaport had his own workshop. He was the head Silversmith.
Wilhelm Reimer made small enamel and gold pieces.
Phillip Theodor Ringe made small enameled gold and silver objects. He had his own shop.
Fedor Ruckert made articles in Moscow in enamel. He sold many of his pieces independent of Faberge.
Eduard Wilhelm Schramm worked for Faberge making cigarette cases and gold objects. He generally used only his own sig on his pieces.
Vladimir Soloviev took over Ringes workshop when he died and made the same types of objects.
Alfred Thielemann was active as a Faberge jeweller from 1880. His son Karl Rudolph took his place when he died. They were making small trinkets and jewelery pieces.
Stefan Wakeva made practical silver articles. His son Alexander took over when he died.
Henrik Immanuel Wingstrom took over when Perchin died as head workmaster until 1917. Was responsible for all Imperial eggs from 1904-1917. Nearly all hardstone animals, figurines, and flowers were made under his supervision. His son Henrik was his apprentice until 1917"
Looking up, she smiled as a cheshire cat might have.
"That does not include the direct family of Faberge, or even the painters of the miniatures that appear on Faberge objects"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:24 pm
Quote: *Xiao's tail slips between his legs and he whines again* "Well, you seem to have this topic well within your grasp. Maybe you could help me with translating some more of Alexi's journal later. It may contain mention of the egg. But for now, well, you're doing so well with this research. I feel guilty interrupting you. I could go get you some coffee or something. Irish coffee even." *At the mention of Irish coffee his tail resumes its normal, high spirited wag.*
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:25 pm
Chae laughs at his expression. "You just want an excuse to get out of here. I could have warned you things with Faberge get complicated. And that's not even getting in to the explanation that there are more than just the designated "Imperial Eggs""
She tapped her paper. "Faberge made eggs of this quality for very few, it is true. The location of the egg indicates it is a Russian egg. But that does not make it an Imperial Russian egg."
Tilting her head, she laughs. "You need the coffee first?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:29 pm
Quote: "Definitely," Xiao says with a laugh. He heads downstairs to bring forth the promised drinks, his own with a fair amount of Baileys added. He returns, mugs in hand, and sets them carefully out of the way of books and papers. "So you think it is possible this was made as a gift for the Borgoffs, and not just something they managed to inherit somehow?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:31 pm
Chae shakes her head. "Possibly. There were several eggs thought to be Imperial, but were in actuality bought by Kelch. The Pine Cone egg, for example."
She sits up a bit taller. An overabundance of details seemed to scare Xiao. While that was a nice diversion, it did not garner any solid response to her information. She might as well use him since he was there to sound off against.
"There are several groups that you can lump Faberge in to. The most trendy is to group the eggs...not by the person that received, but by the giver."
She taps her fingers in the seperate lists she made. "There were eggs that were bought by Kelch, and presented to him. That is one group. We can refer to that as the non imperial group. high quality eggs given and bought by wealthy people that were not neccessarily royal. Kelch dealt in oil."
She highlighted another group "The "Imperial" proper group. These were eggs purchased by Nicholas II and Alexander III for their wives and Nicholas' mother."
Finally the third. "These are the eggs that were presented TO the royal family...but not bought by Nicholas to that end. Gifts from Faberge himself."
She looks up. "Clear enough?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:33 pm
Quote: Xiao took a big drink of his coffee, leaving a slight froth over his top lip. "You speak with the clarity I try to write with, on good days. So yes," he gave a smile and raised his glass as if in toast, "I believe I understand. It sounds as if it would not have necessarily been likely, but also cannot be ruled out that the Borgoffs were either given this egg as a present by Faberge or that they purchased it. The journal doesn't say much about where the family wealth came from, I guess that isn't something a man feels he needs to write down in his personal notes." He seemed to notice he had something on his lips and licked them, then continued. "I did some research while we were here, though, on the old families. A Baron Borgoff of St. Petersburg in 1886 owned a port on the coast of the Black Sea. His name came up in several records, caviar trade among them. I think its the same family, that the Baron was Alexi's father, and that is probably how they got their money. Perhaps they became wealthy enough to gain note of the Czar and his master craftsman. There was also mention of the fact that the Baron's wife threw elaborate parties." Xiao toyed with the rim of his mug, "So if we can prove Faberge presented this egg to Baron Borgoff, then because he was the giver, that would be a means to classify your research, correct?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:34 pm
She nodded. "It would be far more likely that the Baron either bought the egg, or in the collapse of the Tsarist regime, made off with a piece of the monarchy. I can't say for sure, but I think that Faberge kept his gifts of THIS grand a scale, only for his most important clients. Since this is the only potential Faberge piece we have noted in the Borgoff family, I can't say that I actually trust it was a prize handed out on a whim."
She shrugged "Unless you can show me some strong ties to the Romanovs from this family. I have not been able to dig any up, but the purges before and during the revolution make such associations difficult to document."
"I would say that at this point, the strongest indication would be that if the Baron were of money...new or old money....he likely purchased this egg from Faberge himself. Just as Kelch did."
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:38 pm
Quote: Xiao finished his coffee as Chaeval talked. He had never known you could purchase Faberge Eggs back when they were being made. "It reminds me of modern times, where money is nobility. I suppose on the one hand it means everyone can aspire to high class, but it takes something away from it as well. It seems from the journal that the Borgoffs were very concerned with appearances and class." He paused, then came up with a maxim that was no doubt borne on the euphoric rush of Baileys, but he thought it sounded good, " Buried treasure is definitely more egalitarian. It belongs to whoever gets there first." The whole monologue seemed rhetorical. Asking questions, he kept having them answered; this was safer. He went to the door, "We should both get some rest. If you keep studying that hard you're going to start hallucinating. I had that happen once." With that he wagged his tail at Chaeval once, perched in front of her stack of information, and then he left to his own room.
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:40 pm
You go to sleep later that Xiao suggested. There was just so much to look up. You feel you are so close to understanding this missing egg, an egg not even listed in the books, it will make history! That is...if you are allowed to publish your findings. You've heard things about Harikonotora's operations that make you wonder. You fall alseep on a bed covered in papers, the box with the egg out on the nightstand. Even with the lights out, the egg glitters gold, white, blue...
Chae had promptly forgotten Xiao upon his exit. There was merely too much else that needed to be done and researched. His admonishment about sleep was likewise disregarded as she continued to shove through her many resources.
Every moment she became more and more convinced that this was a previously unrecorded Faberge egg. Whether it was Imperial, or merely one purchased by a wealthy family with aspirations worthy of the nobility was less important at the moment than notating and finding out all she could.
This one artifact could make her studies and any future projects secure. She was less drawn by fame as the promise of forthcoming security.
Of course, Harikonotora could still pull the plug on such dreams...she wasn't entirely sure that the eccentric heiress was completely forthcoming of things. Rumors were slovenly things...but compelling nonetheless.
Placing the egg on the nightstand, Chae yawned. She curled up there on the bed, treatesies and documents scattered as leaves fallen from the tree of knowledge. They became the lining to her own nest as sleep eventually overcame her. And with sleep came dreams...
The dream began with lights. The gold lights are apples, all so ripe and heavy that it is a marvel they do not fall from the manicured trees at even the slight disturbance of someone walking through the orchard. They are solid gold. The white light is the moon, catching the leaves and turning them a complimentary silver. Silver as the tip of that sentinal's spear, the one who is slumped over by the wall there, sleeping. Some guard, to fall asleep watching over such treasure. It is a warm, still night, but that is no good reason.
Then she could hear it, a song like the random but melodious striking of tiny bells. Blue light fills the orchard, and the song grows louder. Already asleep, she was immune to its effects, but you can see even the fireflies landing on the grass and turning out their little lights. A bird as elegant as a crane, as ornate as a peacock, and as sleek as an albatross alights in the tree above you. It is the source of light and song, so bright that your eyes water in the waking world as she looked at it in the dream. It plucked an apple with its beak, gold spearing gold, and ate it in a few ungainly gulps - Chae had half expected it to eat it like a court lady would, but it is, after all, a bird. Full after just one, it preened its wings, then took off, light and song leaving the garden.
Chae had the irrational feeling of guilt. So enchanted by its beauty, she had let this thief take her father's prized apples. At the same time she was sure her father was retired and hasn't bought any golden orchards unless he failed to mention it.
"I will help you find the bird. Come on." Says a growly voice. Wasn't a grey wolf supposed to aid her now? She know this story like the back of her hand, but it's hard to remember in the dream. She did then look down. The wolf is indeed by her side, but he wore that spikey black collar and Soldats hat that XiaoRen is always sporting.
"Xiao? What are you doing here?" Even as she said it, Chae woke from the absurdity. Great, she'd been working so hard now she was dreaming about the fuzzy nutball of a dig manager.
Then she heard the song again. Her covers are awash in blue light, not as strong as that in the dream, but similar. Chae finally made herself look over to the kitchenette, where a ghostly bird was hovering over her fruit bowl, attempting to peck at one of the apples.
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