Prized Fabergé Egg Sold for Over $30 Million at Global Auction

Fabergé is believed to have produced 50 luxury eggs for Russia’s rulers, and the “Winter Egg,” sold on Tuesday, is regarded as one of the jewelry house’s greatest masterpieces.

A crystal Fabergé egg adorned with platinum snowflakes and encrusted with thousands of tiny rose diamonds was sold in London on Tuesday for more than $30 million, setting a new auction record for a creation by the renowned Russian jeweler.

The “Winter Egg” was crafted in 1913 for Czar Nicholas II, four years before the collapse of the Romanov empire in the Russian Revolution. It was one of 50 Easter eggs that Fabergé produced for the imperial family between 1885 and 1917.

These eggs, with their intricate motifs, lustrous enameling, and exceptional craftsmanship, came to symbolize the wealth and opulence of the Romanovs. More than a century after their downfall, the rarity and exquisite artistry of these pieces continue to drive collectors to spend millions on a single egg.

The Winter Egg: One of Fabergé’s Finest Works

The House of Fabergé created the Winter Egg for Nicholas II to gift to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, on Easter 1913, marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.

It was designed by Alma Pihl, one of the most distinguished designers at Fabergé. The egg rests on a pearly crystal base resembling a melting block of ice, and conceals a tiny platinum basket filled with miniature anemone flowers. It was the third most expensive egg crafted by Fabergé for the Russian royal family, according to Christie’s.

After Nicholas II abdicated, the egg became part of the treasures seized by the Soviet government, which sold many valuables to raise funds. In the late 1920s, it was acquired by the Wartski Gallery in London.

The egg was considered lost from the 1970s until its rediscovery in the 1990s. It was later auctioned twice, in 1994 and 2002, breaking the auction record for a Fabergé object each time. It shattered that record once more this week, selling for $30.2 million to an unnamed buyer, according to Christie’s.

Fabergé Eggs: An Easter Tradition of the Czars

Czar Alexander III, father of Nicholas II, commissioned the first egg from Peter Carl Fabergé as an Easter gift for his wife. Known as the “Hen Egg,” it features a white exterior with a gold band and opens to reveal a golden yolk containing a tiny gold hen.

Alexander III presented a Fabergé egg to Maria Feodorovna every Easter until his death. Nicholas II continued the tradition, but commissioned two eggs annually: one for his mother and another for his wife, Alexandra.

Fabergé spent a full year crafting each egg, keeping details secret because the czar enjoyed being surprised. Among the most notable creations is the “Mosaic Egg,” designed by Alma Pihl and considered the most expensive egg ever made by the house. It is covered with tiny pearls, diamonds, sapphires, and other gems, and contains a plaque with portraits of five Romanov children.

Another is the “Coronation Egg,” given by Nicholas II to Alexandra in 1897, featuring a hidden compartment containing a miniature replica of her coronation coach.

Only a Few Remain in Private Hands

The whereabouts of only 43 imperial eggs are known today, spread across museums and collections worldwide. Fewer than 10 are believed to be privately owned.

The Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg holds nine imperial eggs, while three are in the Royal Collection Trust in London. In the United States, five are housed at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and one at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

In 2014, an unnamed collector purchased the Third Imperial Egg, which contains a watch, for $33 million, according to Fabergé.