August 20, 2003 – “Vivian Alexander Creations”

Don’t say “Faberge.” They are eggs as splendid as the ones made for the Russian dynasty, but they are made just down the road from Lafayette, in Vermilion parish. A touch of the old world elegance of the Czars created right here along bayou Vermilion just a stone’s throw from downtown Milton.

A tough of the pre-revolution Kremlin in the heart of Acadiana between Abbeville and Lafayette. Designer Alexander Caldwell said, “the basis for all of our design work comes from the Romanoff era, and that, of course is the Faberge era also. But everything that we do springs from that. The colors that we use, the varied design patterns and so forth is based on many years ago, the 18 and early 1900s”.

Vivian Alexander eggs are intricately designed upscale originals. They are clocks and jewelry boxes. Caldwell said one of the eggs  has sand washed silk on the inside of it. They are purses and picture frames as elegant on the back as on the front. The exquisite workmanship of Faith LeBlanc and Dana Burley glistens in every creation.

They enamel and jewel ostrich, goose and duck eggs. And sometimes they start fresh with pure silver, gold plated. The snows of the winter palace will never fall in Vermilion parish, but the elegance of the Czars is here today. Those originals start at 80 dollars — and go all the way up to 25-thousand dollars. Tours of Vivian Alexander can be scheduled by appointment only. Call (337) 898-0803.