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.
