The Tsarevich egg is one of the Imperial Fabergé eggs, a series of jeweled Easter eggs created by the House of Fabergé for the Russian Imperial family. Commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II, the egg was delivered in 1912 and presented to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, as an Easter gift.
Design and Materials
- Materials: Gold, white and dark enamel, diamonds, and various colored gemstones.
- Workmaster: The egg is attributed to the workmaster Henrik Wigström, who oversaw many of the later Imperial eggs.
- Dimensions: Approximately 9 cm (3½ in) in height.
The egg’s exterior is a smooth, doubly‑enameled oval shell set with a diamond‑studded band. Its lid is hinged, allowing access to the interior surprise.
Surprise
The concealed surprise consists of a miniature portrait of the Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, rendered in gold and enamel and set within a tiny, gold-framed case. The portrait is regarded as a personal tribute to the heir apparent.
Historical Context
The 1912 Tsarevich egg was the twenty‑first egg in the series of twenty‑four Imperial Fabergé eggs produced between 1885 and 1917. The eggs served both as luxurious decorative objects and as symbols of the close relationship between the Tsar and his mother.
Provenance and Current Location
After the Russian Revolution, the egg entered the art market and changed hands several times. It is presently housed in the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s permanent collection of Imperial eggs.
Significance
The Tsarevich egg exemplifies the high level of craftsmanship characteristic of Fabergé’s workshop in the final decade of the Russian Empire. Its personal subject matter— a portrait of the heir— highlights the intimate nature of many Imperial eggs, which were often tailored to the interests and relationships of the royal family members who received them.