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Record £20M Fabergé Egg Hits Auction Block
2 Dec
Summary
- A rare diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg is expected to sell for £20 million.
- Considered the most iconic example of decorative art ever created.
- The egg was previously purchased for $9.6 million in 2002.
A remarkable diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg, crafted 112 years ago for Russian royalty, is poised to break auction records with an estimated sale price of £20 million. This exquisite piece is described by experts as the pinnacle of decorative art, celebrated for its unparalleled craftsmanship and historical significance. It represents a significant milestone as one of only three Imperial Fabergé eggs in truly private collections.
The 'Winter Egg,' designed by Alma Pihl, draws inspiration from frozen snowflakes and features over 4,500 diamonds set in platinum on rock crystal. Its hidden surprise is a delicate basket with carved quartz anemones, symbolizing the arrival of spring. The egg's creation followed the tradition initiated by Tsar Alexander III for his wife, which his son Nicholas II continued, commissioning two eggs annually for his mother and wife.
After surviving the Russian Revolution and the execution of the royal family, the egg was eventually sold to a London dealer for £450. It later sold for £1,500 in 1934 and was most recently acquired in 2002 for $9.6 million. Now, it returns to the auction block at Christie's, anticipated to achieve an astronomical sum.
