Egging On Fathers and Sons

Tradition is a key to the story of fathers and sons. Today, the Holy Father &mdsh; who, ironically, won't have children — delivers the traditional Easter "Urbi et Orbi" in honor and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, son of God.

Another part of the Easter tradition is remembered with today's objet d'eBay, a tchotchke in the style of the famous Faberge eggs. Those decorative huevos began life as a present from Tsar Alexander III to (his wife) Empress Maria, Easter 1885. The Easter gift giving tradition was followed by his son, Tsar Nicholas II ... until the 1917 revolution. And, since the revolution scattered the house of Faberge, the tradition of making such extravagances was carried on by Carl Faberge's son's — Eugène, Agathon, Alexander and Nicholas — as they set up the Faberge diaspora in Switzerland, Scandinavia, France, Britain and Brazil.

For years, the most prominent collector of the actual eggs was Malcolm Forbes. Upon his death and to pay off debts of the company whose assets they diminished, his sons sold off the collection and they returned to Russia from America.

** There is always tradition a father passes on to son. No, the tradition is not always good. **