Russian Emperor’s lavish gift for mother could sell for more than £20 million
In 1913, an elegant Faberge egg assigned by Emperor Nicholas II is expected to command more than £ 20 million at the auction.
This rich creation, known as winter eggs, was a generous Easter gift for his mother Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and was accepted among Faberge’s most magnificent imperial works.
Following the Russian revolution of 1917, he moved from St Petersburg to Armory in Moscow, as well as other royal treasures. The Soviet Government began to sell art from the Hermitage Museum and other collections in the 1920s, often for some of its real values.
Winter eggs were purchased by antique dealers in London for £ 450, and then sold to an English collector in 1934 for £ 1,500, and then sold to someone else before it was sold.
It was believed that he had lost for twenty years between 1975 and 1994, when he was sold in Christie’s for the sum of the world records of the Swiss Franc (£ 6.8 million).
In 2002, Christie was sold once more and again sold US $ 9,579,000 (£ 7.1 million) in a world record.
The rock crystalline is carved and carved with a frost design, while the outer part of the rose cut is applied with diamond-set platinum snowflake motifs.
Christie’s department head Faberge and Russian artwork Margo Oganesian said: “For the third time in the history of Christie, Faberge is entrusted with the sale of elegant winter eggs.
“With only six Imperial Easter eggs remaining in private collections, this is an extraordinary chance for collectors to acquire things that are one of the best creations of Faberge both technically and artically.
“Undoubtedly, he would develop the most distinguished collection.”
Winter eggs, Christie’s classic week in London on December 2 will be auction.
