1897 The Mauve Egg with Three Miniatures
Maria Feodorovna
The surviving surprise in the collection of the Fabergé Museum, St. Petersburg.
Purchase price: 3,250 rubles.
One of the six missing Imperial Easter eggs produced by Faberge. A description of this item is found in the associated invoice: “Mauve enameled egg with 3 miniatures.” The surprise — a heart with three miniature portraits of Nicholas II, Alexandra and their first child, Grand Duchess Olga — survives. The three-fold frame in the shape of a heart mounted on a column is in the neo-classical style. In 1962 the surprise was in the possession of Lydia Deterding, neé Kudeyarova. In 1978 it was offered at a Christie’s auction, where it was purchased by Malcolm Forbes. At present, it is in the collection of the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg.
In July of 1917 the Egg was kept at the Gatchina Palace.
Whereabouts currently unknown.