Rare Fabergรฉ Egg, โขOnce Owned by Russian โRoyalty,โ Sells for Record $30.2 Million
A Fabergรฉ egg crafted for teh Russian imperial family โฃin โฃ1913 has shattered auction records, selling for โ$30.2 million at Christie’s London,โ the auction house announced Tuesday. Known as the “Winter โEgg,”โ the opulent creation-comparable to the “Mona Lisa” for decorativeโ arts,according to Christie’s-is one โฃof only seven ofโ these jeweled objects remaining in private hands.
The sale price marks a new world record for a Fabergรฉ item and underscores the enduring allure of Russia’s Romanov dynasty and โฃthe exquisite craftsmanship of โPeter Carl Fabergรฉ. The egg’sโ journeyโ from imperial treasure to private collection, and now toโ anโ undisclosed buyer, reflects a turbulent history and the continuing captivation with a lost era ofโ luxury. The record-breaking price also highlights the โคrobust market for rare collectibles and the enduring investment value of historically important art.
The 4-inch tall egg โคis meticulously carved โfrom rock crystal and adorned with a delicate platinum snowflake motifโฃ and โ4,500 diamonds. Inside, a removable basket holds bejeweled quartz flowers symbolizing โคspring.Czar Nicholas II commissioned the egg as an Easter present for his mother, โDowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. It was designed by alma Pihl, โone of Fabergรฉ’sโ few female designers, who also created an egg now owned by โคthe British royal family.
Fabergรฉ and his company โฃcreated โคmore then 50 of these elaborate eggs for the Russian imperialโข family between 1885 and 1917, each containing a hidden surprise. Czar Alexander III began the tradition, presenting an egg to his wife each Easter, a practice continued by Nicholas โฃII โฃfor his โฃwife and mother.
The “Winter Egg”‘s historyโ after the 1917 revolution saw it purchased by a โขLondon dealer for 450 poundsโ in theโ 1920s as the โฃCommunist authorities sold off Russia’s artistic treasures. It resurfaced at Christie’s in 1994,selling for over โข7 million Swiss francs ($5.6 million at the time), and again in 2002 for $9.6 million.Each sale โestablished a new record for a Fabergรฉ item.
There are 43 surviving imperial Fabergรฉโ eggs, theโข majority housed in museums worldwide. Margo Oganesian, head of Christie’s Russian art department, described the โขegg as “the ‘Mona lisa’ for decorative arts,” a superb โexample of craft and design.