Made in St. Petersburg
Workmaster: Henrik Wigstrom.
Marks: Faberge, H.W., 1913, 72, kokoshnik.
Materials: Gold, silver, steel, diamonds, turquoise, rock crystal, purpurine, ivory.
Dimensions: Height 71/2" (19 cm).
Techniques: Casting, engraving, painting, gold-plating, enamel, transparent enamel on a guilloche ground
Kept in the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, inv.no.MP-651/1-2.
Description:
The egg, with eighteen miniature portraits of the Romanov czars and emperors, is supported by a shaft in the shape of a three-sided heraldic eagle. The golden egg is covered with white transparent enamel on a guilloche ground.
The miniature portraits by Vassily Zuiev, in eighteen round diamond frames, depict members of the Romanov dynasty, from Michael Feodorovich to Nicholas II. The spaces between the portraits contain inlaid patterns of heraldic eagles, crowns, and czar's wreaths. A large diamond bearing the dates "1613" and "1913" is secured at the top of the egg, while a large triangular diamond fixed to the bottom end covers the monogram "A.F." The inside of the egg is lined with opalescent enamel on a guilloche ground. A rotating steel globe of dark blue enamel is secured inside the egg; it shows the territories of Russia in 1613 and 1913, represented in gold. The base is constructed of purpurine, decorated with small enamel patterns, and secured on three supports cast in the shape of flattened pellets.
Provenance:
Presented by emperor Nicholas II to his wife, empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Easter 1913.