A Fabergé egg, known as the Winter Egg, was sold at Christie’s auction house in London for a record £22.9 million ($30.2 million).
The egg, which features 4,500 diamonds, was originally commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II in 1913 as a gift for his mother. It is regarded as one of the notable works of the renowned jeweler Carl Fabergé and was designed by Alma Theresia Pihl, one of the few female workmasters at the St. Petersburg jewelry firm. The egg stands at 8.2 centimeters (3.2 inches) in height and is crafted from rock crystal, embellished with rose-cut diamonds and platinum motifs resembling snowflakes. Inside, the egg reveals a small basket made of white quartz flowers.
This sale surpasses the previous record for a Fabergé egg, which reached £8.9 million at auction in 2007. The Winter Egg is one of only seven Fabergé eggs remaining in private hands from the original 50 that were created for the Russian imperial family. The remaining eggs are either missing or held by institutions and museums. Fabergé produced these eggs from 1885 until the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917.
Christie’s has stated that this record-setting sale emphasizes the ongoing significance of this particular piece.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7v24m1leyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss