The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has published a delightful Faberge' book and produced a colorful Faberge video. Both include rarely-seen details of the spectacular objects in the museum S renowned Faberge' collection.

The book sparkles with 90 full-color photographs of more than 50 dazzling pieces created in the Faberge' Workshops for the last Russian czars.

Written by Dr. David Park Curry, curator of American arts, "Faberge': Virginia Museum of Fine Arts" explores aspects of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' world-renowned collection of Faberge' precious objects as never before.

Photographs, commissioned from fine-arts photographer Katherine Wetzel, unveil breathtaking details usually seen only by museum curators and conservators, and the text itself reveals much new information about these legendary objects - forever linked to a doomed monarchy - and the persistent collecting activities of Lillian Thomas Pratt of Fredericksburg, who bequeathed her remarkable collection to the Commonwealth in 1947.

According to "Antique Week" reviewer Don Johnson, "This is one book that is simply a pleasure to read."

The book was made possible by a grant from The Council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, an all-volunteer support group.
In addition to its 90 color plates, the 132-page book includes 95 duotone illustrations. It sells for $19.95 in softcover and $25 in hardcover, plus tax. It is available in the museum's shop or by phone: l-800-943-VMFA (8632).

The museum's intimate documentary video, "Faberge: Shopping, Collecting, Remembering," unveils the world-renowned Faberge collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as it has never been seen before.

The tape runs 30 minutes, reviewing each of the museum's five jewel-and gold-encrusted imperial eggs and countless other Faberge objects. Included are views of the Pratts' historic river-front home in Fredericksburg and interviews with those who knew the Pratts and Mrs. Pratt's Faberge collection intimately. The video also tells the story of the Faberge workshops and the death of the last czar and his family. Pictures of the eggs in close-up reveal details rarely seen before. But the focus is on the story of Lillian Thomas Pratt of Fredericksburg and the collection she built and bequeathed to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The video is available in the museum's gift shop for $19.95 (members $17.95), plus tax. To order by phone, dial l-800-943-VMFA (8632). For mail orders, write to Publications, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 2800 Grove Avenue, Richmond VA 23221-2466.; add $4 for postage and handling. Virginia residents add 4.5% sales tax.)