LONDON (AP) — A rare Fabergé egg, known as the Winter Egg, is set to be auctioned with an estimated value exceeding 20 million pounds ($26.4 million). This exquisite piece was originally crafted for Russia’s imperial family before the 1917 revolution led to their demise.
The auction will take place at Christie's London headquarters on Tuesday, featuring the Winter Egg as one of only seven Fabergé eggs that remain in private hands. According to Christie's auction house, this particular egg exemplifies the opulence and artistry associated with the brand. The egg stands at 4 inches (10 centimeters) tall, made from finely carved rock crystal, and is embellished with a delicate snowflake motif of platinum and 4,500 tiny diamonds. Inside the egg lies a removable tiny basket filled with bejeweled quartz flowers, symbolizing the arrival of spring.
Margo Oganesian, the head of Christie’s Russian art department, draws an interesting comparison, likening the Winter Egg to a luxurious Kinder Surprise chocolate, encapsulating both artistry and surprise. She highlights its significance in the world of decorative arts, dubbing it "the ‘Mona Lisa’ for decorative arts."
The Winter Egg is particularly noteworthy as it is one of only two eggs designed by the female designer Alma Pihl. It was commissioned by Czar Nicholas II in 1913 as an Easter gift for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. The only other egg created by Pihl is currently owned by the British royal family.
Crafted by the renowned artisan Peter Carl Fabergé and his team, the Winter Egg is among over 50 such eggs designed for the Russian imperial family between 1885 and 1917. Each egg was uniquely crafted and contained hidden surprises, beginning with Czar Alexander III's tradition of gifting an egg to his wife each Easter. This custom was later expanded by his successor, Nicholas II, who included both his wife and mother in the annual gifting.
The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia for a remarkable 300 years before being overthrown during the 1917 revolution, with Nicholas II and his family being executed in 1918. The Winter Egg’s journey is also fascinating; it was purchased by a London dealer for just 450 pounds when the financially strapped Communist authorities in the 1920s sold off various artistic treasures from Russia. For two decades, it was considered lost until it resurfaced and was auctioned by Christie’s in 1994 for over 7 million Swiss francs ($5.6 million at that time). The egg changed ownership again in 2002 for $9.6 million.
As the auction approaches, experts predict that the Winter Egg will surpass the previous record of $18.5 million, set at a Christie’s auction in 2007 for another Fabergé egg intended for the Rothschild banking family.
Currently, there are 43 surviving imperial Fabergé eggs, with most of them residing in museums, making the Winter Egg a significant addition to any collection.
