The Specialist | Fabergé’s Rediscovered Imperial Flower, with Helen Culver-Smith

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an episode of The Specialist, produced by Intelligence Squared in partnership with Sotheby's. In The Specialist, explore the significance and journey of an extraordinary work through the eyes of those that know it best. On today’s episode, the beauty of nature suspended for eternity. Helen Culver-Smith, Head of Decorative Arts Worldwide and Head of Fabergé and Russian works of Art, reveals how the digital discovery of an apple blossom study, rendered in gold, enamel and rock crystal by master maker Fabergé, led her down a fascinating path of provenance, all the way to Imperial Russia. ⁠⁠Further details about the episode subject⁠⁠ The Specialist is brought to you by Sotheby's Financial Services. SFS offers asset-based loans to unlock the value of your fine art, automobiles and other luxury collectibles. Visit⁠⁠ ⁠sothebys.com/sfs⁠⁠⁠ to find out more. To step further into the World of Sotheby’s, visit any one of our galleries, which are open to the public. Explore more at⁠⁠ ⁠sothebys.com⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Intelligence Squared where Great Minds meet. I'm head of programming Connor Boyle.
0:06.2	Today, something a little different, we're excited to share with you a hand-picked episode of a brand new series,
0:11.8	The Specialist, produced by Intelligence Squared, in partnership with Sotheby's. We've all heard the
0:17.1	stories of the record-breaking works, headline-grabbing auctions and moments that
0:21.7	shock the art world and beyond. But have you ever wondered what's happening behind the scenes?
0:26.9	What goes into valuing a masterpiece or who the people are really behind the gavel?
0:31.2	The specialist brings you art's most extraordinary stories, told by the experts who witnessed them
0:36.9	in short episodes, perfect for
0:38.8	a weekend listen. Now, over to the specialist. Appreciation for Faberjé is truly international.
0:46.0	You can appreciate the flowers as true works of art, even if Faberjé isn't your chosen
0:50.8	collecting field. They stand out as masterpieces across the decorative arts.
0:56.7	Sotheby's is the temporary custodian of some of the world's most rare, remarkable and coveted
1:02.2	art and objects.
1:03.9	In each episode, we'll be exploring the significance and journey of an extraordinary work
1:08.8	told by those who know it best.
1:12.2	This is The Specialist.
1:15.1	On today's episode, The Beauty of Nature suspended for eternity.
1:20.5	Helen Culver-Smith reveals how the digital discovery of an apple blossom study,
1:25.3	rendered in gold, enamel and rock crystal by mastermaker Faberjé
1:29.4	led her down a fascinating path of provenance all the way to Imperial Russia. Helen is Sotheby's
1:36.1	head of decorative arts worldwide and head of Faberjé and Russian works of art. Let's join Helen now
1:42.8	with more. The history of the House of Faberjay is a really
	...

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