1912 The Tsesarevich Egg
Alexandra Feodorovna
Purchase price 15,800 rubles.
In the spring of 1912 the Imperial family passed the Easter holidays at their residence in Livadia. At the Emperor’s request, Carl Faberge personally delivered the Napoleonic Egg to the Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna at the Anichkov Palace in St. Petersburg. At the same time, he dispatched to Crimea his eldest son Eugene Karlovich, an agent of the firm since 1894.
From an entry in Faberge account book: “Large Egg in the style of Louis XIV of lapis lazuli, decorated in chased matte gold; 1 brilliant diamond and 1 large rose-cut diamond, inside a two-headed eagle in platinum with 1,871 rose-cut diamonds and a two-sided miniature of His Imperial Highness the Heir apparent Tsesarevich, painted by Zuiev.”
A letter from Eugene Faberge to H.C. Bainbridge, head of the firm’s London outpost in 1906-1915, survives in the archives of Tatyana Faberge. Bainbridge had begun work on a biography of Carl Faberge, and sought his son’s help in assembling historical material. In a letter dated June 5, 1934 Eugene Faberge wrote, “This Egg was made of lapis lazuli in 1912 — at that time the Tsar was staying in Livadia, near Yalta, on Crimea’s southern coast. My father wanted me to deliver it in person to His Majesty. Thus, I undertook a journey across Russia in the company of my good friend, a Finn. From Sevastopol we were driven in the Tsar’s personal automobile across the beautiful Baidar Valley and along the excellent Yalta highway; the journey lasted some 4 hours, as I recall. From there, having put on fresh clothing, I was driven in the same automobile to the Livadia Palace. An attendant took me to the Emperor, who received me very warmly. We were left alone: he was delighted with father’s charming idea, and greatly impressed with the Egg. Then he took me by the arm and led me to the window, showing me a most beautiful view of Yalta and the Black Sea, as he explained various points of interest. He then asked me to convey his gratitude to my father along with most sincere regards, and I left to meet up with my friend and dine at the hotel. After the audience with His Majesty, while still at the Palace, I met the Prince Vladimir Orlov, the Tsar’s private chauffeur, who promised to drive me the following morning from Yalta to Sevastopol. The journey (i.e., the drive) was very beautiful.”
In 1927 the State Repository Commission valued the Egg at 14,205 rubles. It was purchased by Armand Hammer in 1930 for $4,000, based on a valuation by Antikvariat, and resold to Lilian Thomas Pratt in 1933-34.
In the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA.
https://www.vmfa.museum/piction/6027262-8037711/