LONDON (AP) — A rare crystal and diamond Fabergé egg created for Russia's ruling family before it was overthrown by revolution broke records Tuesday when it sold at auction for 22.9 million pounds ($30.2 million).
The Winter Egg, which has been compared to the famous Mona Lisa, was just one of seven luxury ovoids remaining in private hands, according to Christie's London auction house.
The 4-inch (10cm) tall egg is crafted from finely carved rock crystal and covered in a delicate snowflake motif made of platinum and 4,500 tiny diamonds. It opens to reveal a removable tiny basket containing bejeweled quartz flowers symbolizing spring.
The sale price, including buyer's premium, exceeded the $18.5 million paid at Christie's in 2007 for another Fabergé egg created for the Rothschild banking family.
Master Peter Carl Fabergé and his company created more than 50 eggs for the Russian Imperial Family between 1885 and 1917, each of which was carefully designed and unique and contained a hidden surprise. Tsar Alexander III started the tradition by giving his wife an egg every Easter. His successor Nicholas II gave the gift to his wife and mother.
Tsar Nicholas II ordered the egg from his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, as an Easter gift in 1913. It was one of two eggs created by female designer Alma Peel; her other egg belongs to the British royal family.
The Romanov royal family ruled Russia for 300 years before the 1917 revolution overthrew it. Nicholas and his family were executed in 1918.
Bought by a London dealer for £450 when cash-strapped communist authorities sold off some of Russia's artistic treasures in the 1920s, the egg changed hands several times. For two decades it was considered lost until it was sold at Christie's in 1994 for more than 7 million Swiss francs ($5.6 million at the time). It sold again in 2002 for $9.6 million.
According to Christie's, each time the egg was sold, a world record price was set for a Faberge piece.
Margo Oganesyan, head of Christie's Russian art department, called the egg the “Mona Lisa” of decorative art, a magnificent example of craft and design.
43 Fabergé imperial eggs have survived, most of which are in museums.
