A piece of Russian imperial history has shattered auction records in London, with the sale of the exquisite Winter Fabergé egg for a staggering £22,895,000.
A Royal Gift of Unparalleled Craftsmanship
The jewel was commissioned in 1913 by the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II, as an Easter gift for his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Crafted by the legendary house of Fabergé, it is hailed as one of the most technically brilliant and lavish creations from the imperial series.
The egg itself is fashioned from rock crystal, its interior masterfully engraved to resemble frost. The exterior is adorned with delicate motifs of platinum snowflakes, each meticulously set with rose-cut diamonds, creating a breathtaking evocation of the winter season.
A Turbulent Journey Through History
The egg's history mirrors the tumult of 20th-century Russia. Following the 1917 Revolution, it was seized and moved from St Petersburg to the Kremlin armoury in Moscow. In the 1920s, as the Soviet regime sold off royal treasures, it entered the international market.
Its remarkable provenance includes:
- Acquisition by the London firm Wartski.
- A sale to a British collector in 1934 for just £1,500.
- A mysterious disappearance from 1975 to 1994.
- A previous sale at Christie's in 1994 for £6.8 million.
- Another sale in 2002 for £7.1 million.
Setting a New World Auction Record
The latest sale at Christie's London has firmly established the Winter egg as the most valuable Fabergé work ever sold at auction. It spectacularly surpassed the previous record of £8.9 million, set by the Rothschild egg in 2007. Notably, this is the third time this particular egg has set a record-breaking price for Fabergé.
Margo Oganesian, Head of Department for Fabergé and Russian Works of Art at Christie's, stated: "Today’s result reaffirms the enduring significance of this masterpiece... With only a handful of imperial Easter eggs remaining in private hands, this was an exceptional and historic opportunity for collectors."
The monumental price underscores the insatiable demand for rare, top-tier works of art with impeccable royal provenance, securing the Winter egg's place not just as a beautiful object, but as a pivotal piece of historical narrative.
