Key Takeaways
- The Winter egg, a vintage jewel-studded Fabergé egg, has been sold for a record £22.9m in London.
- The egg was commissioned in 1913 by Emperor Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.
- The sale sets a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé, beating the previous record of £8.9m set in 2007.
- The Winter egg is considered one of the most lavish of Fabergé’s imperial creations and is described as a rock crystal engraved with a frost design on the inside and rose-cut diamond-set platinum snowflake motifs on the outside.
Introduction to the Winter Egg
The Winter egg, a stunning example of Fabergé’s craftsmanship, has been sold at a record-breaking price of £22.9m in London. This exquisite piece was commissioned in 1913 by Emperor Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. The egg is considered one of the most lavish of Fabergé’s imperial creations and is a testament to the jeweller’s exceptional skill and attention to detail. The Winter egg is a rock crystal engraved with a frost design on the inside, while the outside features rose-cut diamond-set platinum snowflake motifs, making it a truly unique and breathtaking piece.
The History of Fabergé and the Royal Collection
Peter Carl Fabergé is widely regarded as the greatest Russian jeweller of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works were highly prized by the Russian, Danish, and British royal families, who commissioned him to create exquisite pieces for their personal collections. The royal collection of Fabergé’s works includes some of the most iconic and valuable pieces of jewellery in the world. The Winter egg is just one example of Fabergé’s exceptional craftsmanship and is considered one of the most important pieces in the collection. The egg’s history and provenance make it a highly sought-after item among collectors, and its sale has set a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé.
The Provenance of the Winter Egg
The Winter egg has a long and fascinating history, having been passed from owner to owner over the years. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the egg was taken from St Petersburg to the Kremlin armoury in Moscow, alongside other valuable possessions of the royal family. In the 1920s, the Soviet government began selling off art treasures from the Hermitage Museum and other collections, often for a fraction of their value. The Winter egg was later acquired by Wartski of London and sold to a British collector for £1,500 in 1934. For two decades, between 1975 and 1994, the egg was believed to be missing, before being sold at Christie’s for £6.8m. Eight years later, in 2002, the auction house sold it again for £7.1m.
The Sale of the Winter Egg
The sale of the Winter egg at Christie’s has set a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé, beating the previous record of £8.9m set in 2007. The egg was sold for £22,895,000, a testament to its exceptional rarity and brilliance. Margo Oganesian, Christie’s head of department for Fabergé and Russian works of art, said: "Christie’s is honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of the exquisite Winter egg by Fabergé for the third time in our history. Today’s result sets a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé, reaffirming the enduring significance of this masterpiece and celebrating the rarity and brilliance of what is widely regarded as one of Fabergé’s finest creations, both technically and artistically." The sale of the Winter egg is a historic opportunity for collectors to acquire a work of unparalleled importance, and its new owner will undoubtedly treasure this exquisite piece for generations to come.
The Significance of the Sale
The sale of the Winter egg is significant not only because of its record-breaking price but also because of its rarity and cultural importance. With only a handful of imperial Easter eggs remaining in private hands, this sale represents an exceptional and historic opportunity for collectors to acquire a work of unparalleled importance. The Winter egg is a masterpiece of Fabergé’s craftsmanship, and its sale is a testament to the enduring significance of this iconic piece. The sale also highlights the ongoing interest in Fabergé’s works and the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations. As a work of art, the Winter egg is a rare and precious item that will continue to be cherished and admired by collectors and art lovers alike.