Made in St. Petersburg
Workmaster: Henrik Wigstrom.
Marks: Faberge, H.W., 72, kokoshnik.
Materials: Gold, steel, nephrite.
Dimensions: Height 61/2" (16.7 cm).
Techniques: Casting, painting.
Kept in the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin,
inv.no.MP-652/1-3
Description: The steel egg, with gold patterns
surmounted by a gold crown, rests on four artillery shells.
It is divided into three sections by two smooth horizontal
lines. In the middle section, in invalid gold, is an image
of George the Conqueror in a diamond-shaped frame outlined
in laurel leaves; the date "1916" encircled by
a laurel wreath; the Russian emblem, consisting of a double-headed
eagle beneath three crowns; and the monogram of empress
Alexandra Feodorovna, also encircled by a laurel wreath.
The egg is surmounted by a golden crown surrounded by a
gold wreath. The four steel artillery shells supporting
the egg are set on a dual-level square nephrite base. A
steel easel bearing the monogram of empress Alexandra Feodorovna
is inserted into the egg. On the easel there is a gold and
white enamel frame displaying the emblem Order of St.George
surmounted by a golden crown. The frame encloses a miniature
paining on ivory by Vassily Zuiev depicting emperor Nicholas
II and his son at the Front.
Provenance: Presented by emperor Nicholas
II to his wife, empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Easter 1916.
