London: A Fabergé Imperial Winter Egg, originally commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother, is set to go under the hammer next week, with an estimated price exceeding $26 million, potentially breaking a record for the third time.
Expertly carved from rock crystal, the egg is adorned with platinum snowflake motifs and delicate floral designs, making it one of Fabergé’s most exquisite creations for the Imperial family.
Resting on a crystal base designed to resemble melting ice, the egg opens to reveal an intricate bouquet hidden inside, adding to its allure.
The Winter Egg will be featured at Christie’s “The Winter Egg and Important Works by Fabergé from a Princely Collection” sale on December 2, part of the auction house’s prestigious “Classic Week.” Its estimated value is listed at over £20 million ($26.45 million).
Margo Oganesian, head of Fabergé and Russian art at Christie’s, commented: “This Imperial Easter Egg is arguably the finest of its kind. Commissioned in 1913 as a gift from Nicholas II to his mother, Maria Feodorovna, its design, craftsmanship, technical mastery, and historical significance are truly exceptional.”
The Winter Egg has previously set records at Christie’s auctions in Geneva (1994) and New York (2002), with the latter fetching $9.6 million. In 2007, the Rothschild Fabergé Egg sold for $18.5 million at Christie’s.
Alongside the Winter Egg, Christie’s “Old Masters Evening Sale” on December 2 will feature Dutch artist Gerrit Dou’s first depiction of a musician, “The Flute Player,” with an estimated price of £2–3 million.
