Click image to view full screen
Lapis Lazuli Easter Egg
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
Peter Carl Fabergé became the crown jeweler to the imperial court of Russia after he produced the very first Easter egg for Tsar Alexander III to give to his wife, Empress Marie Feodorovna. Fabergé created his celebrated Easter eggs, symbols of rebirth and renewal, as gifts for the Russian imperial family every year until he had to leave the country in 1919 after the Russian Revolution. Made of gold and lapis lazui from the Ural Mountains, this egg conceals a delightful surprise within of an imperial crown and a tiny ruby or pink sapphire on a chain.
| Artist / Maker | Peter Carl Fabergé |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1885–90 |
| Culture / Origin | Russia, St. Petersburg |
| Medium | gold, enamel, lapis lazuli, pearls, diamonds, rubies |
| Dimensions | Overall: 5.9 x 4.5 cm (2 5/16 x 1 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Decorative Art and Design |
| Type | Miscellaneous |
About the Artist
Supplied most of the gifts exchanged by relatives of the imperial family in Russia, Denmark, Germany, and England for christenings, name days, birthdays, Christmas, and Easter. Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
Register, verify your identity, and bid online or in a private room. Buyer’s premium and taxes are shown before you confirm.
