Taken at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Expensive eggs anyone?
The Caucasus Egg is a jewelled enameled Easter egg made by Michael Perkhin under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé in 1893. The Fabergé egg was made for Alexander III of Russia, who presented it to his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.
The miniatures are revealed by opening four pearl-bordered doors around the egg. Each door bears a diamond-set numeral of the year, forming the year 1893. Behind the hinged cover at the top is a portrait of the Grand Duke in his naval uniform.
This is the first Imperial egg known to be dated. Ruby red enamel was used only one other time for the Imperial eggs as Alexei Nikolaevich’s hemophilia was a constant worry for the family.
Fabergé Eggs are exquisite and intricate jeweled eggs created by the House of Fabergé, a renowned Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Fabergé in 1842. These eggs were made for the Russian Imperial family between 1885 and 1917 and are considered some of the most valuable and iconic works of decorative art.
Each Fabergé Egg is a masterful blend of precious metals, gemstones, enamel, and other materials. The eggs often had a surprise inside, such as a tiny object or a miniature scene, adding to their allure. The most famous Fabergé Egg is the Imperial Coronation Egg, crafted in 1897 to commemorate the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra.
Due to their historical significance, craftsmanship, and limited numbers (only 50 were made), Fabergé Eggs are highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide. They represent the opulence and grandeur of the Russian Imperial era and remain a symbol of luxury and artistic excellence.