Imperial Coronation (Fabergé egg)

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The Imperial Coronation egg is a

It was frequently on exhibition at The

The egg is made from

It is trellised with bands of greenish gold laurel leaves mounted at each intersection by a gold Imperial double-headed eagle enamelled opaque black, and set with a rose diamond on its chest. This pattern was also drawn from the Coronation robe worn by the Empress.

A large portrait diamond is set in the top of the egg within a cluster of ten brilliant diamonds; through the table of this stone, the monogram of the Empress can be seen. At the other, more narrow end, a smaller portrait diamond is set within a cluster of rose diamonds surrounded by a flower motif made of 20 narrow gold petals. At this end of the egg the portrait diamond covers the date 1897 inscribed on a plaque similar to that of the monogram. The egg was presented together with a glass-enclosed jadeite stand for the display of the carriage at a cost of 5650 rubles.^{[citation needed]}

Surprise

Fitted inside a velvet-lined compartment is a precise replica, less than 100 mm (4 inches) long, of the 18th-century Imperial coach that carried the Tsarina Alexandra to her coronation at Moscow's Uspensky Cathedral.

The red colour of the original coach was recreated using strawberry coloured translucent

Missing surprises include an emerald or diamond pendant that hung inside the replica coach, a glass-enclosed jadeite stand for the display of the carriage as well as a stand made of silver-gilt wire.

History

The coronation of

The gold miniature coach, which is removable from the interior of the Coronation Egg, is a replica of

The coronation in Moscow on May 26th 1896 was the most opulent celebration which I ever witnessed. It bordered close to the Oriental and lasted for 10 days. In Moscow the cathedral was filled with paintings on gold ground of saints and all priests were dressed in gold robes applied with embroidery and precious stones. A very deep feeling of mysticism was in all the ceremonies and you could feel the tradition of Byzance... And following the prayer for the Emperor he gets up and then is the only person standing at that moment in the whole Russian Empire... To look at all this must have been like a fantastic dream because the sun was shining on all.

- Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Brother of Empress Alexandra, Grandson of Queen Victoria^[1]

Past and present ownerships

Royal origin

The Egg was first given to Tsarina Alexandra of Imperial Russia on

Further transactions

The egg was purchased in 1927 by Emanuel Snowman for Wartski a family-owned firm of art and antique dealers in London. The egg was then sold to the collector Charles Parsons in 1934, but then reacquired by Wartski in 1945 and remained with the company until early 1979.

Late twentieth century

In March 1979, the egg was sold to

In 2004, nine Fabergé eggs, including the Imperial Coronation Egg, were to be sold by Sotheby's Auction House, however on February 4, 2004, Sotheby's announced that more than 180 Fabergé art pieces, including the 9 rare Fabergé eggs, had been withdrawn from auction and privately sold to Viktor Vekselberg.^[2] The official selling price of the Coronation Egg to Vekselberg was never publicly disclosed by Sotheby's, fueling much speculation. However, CNN reported the day after the sale that "...it was a very serious offer that the Forbes family accepted."^{[citation needed]} In a 2013 BBC Four documentary, Vekselberg revealed he had spent just over $100 Million purchasing the 9 Fabergé eggs.^[2]

The Fabergé Collection represents perhaps the most significant example of our cultural heritage outside Russia. The religious, spiritual, and emotional content captured by these Faberge eggs touches upon the soul of the Russian people.

— Victor Vekselberg, Chairman of Renova Group

Representation in film

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The

An accurate model of the Imperial Coronation Egg was depicted in the 2004 crime film

A replica of the Imperial Coronation Egg, along with the surprise coach, appear in the first episode of the

Amazon.com series The Romanoffs

(2018).

See also

• Objet d'art
• Alexander III of Russia
• Egg decorating
• Coronation of the Russian monarch

References

1. ^ "Faberge - Treasures of Imperial Russia". Archived from the original on 2013-05-29. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
2. ^ ^{a b} "BBC Four - The World's Most Beautiful Eggs: The Genius of Carl Faberge". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Ocean's Twelve". Vivianalexander.com. 2017-01-12. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2019-11-24.

Sources

• Faber, Toby (2008). Faberge's Eggs: The Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire. Random House.
  ISBN 978-1-4000-6550-9
  .
• ASIN B000YA9GOM
  .
• Lowes, Will (2001). Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia. Scarecrow Press.
  ISBN 0-8108-3946-6
  .
• ISBN 0-517-40502-4
  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Imperial Coronation (Fabergé Egg).

• A detailed article on the Coronation Egg
• Excerpts from a book written about the Coronation Egg
• Mieks Fabergé Eggs - Detailed articles on all Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs