Faberge egg is an ornate egg that was created by the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Faberge. It is considered a symbol of life, rebirth, and romantic messages of love. Each egg is unique and made from many precious materials. Some of these are the most demandable art pieces in the world.
The most expensive Faberge eggs were used to make for the Russian Imperial Family. The emperor used to give these Faberge eggs as gifts to their wife and mother on Easter.
The first Faberge egg was made in 1885 for the Russian Tsar Alexander III. He gives it to his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.
From1885 to 1916, 50 Faberge eggs were made for the Royal Family. But they lost many eggs during the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Now the question is, How many Faberge eggs are still missing?
Well, research has shown that 7 eggs are still missing. These are Hen in Basket Egg, Angle with Egg in a Chariot, Necessaire Egg, Royal Danish Egg, and 3 more. Ok, let’s move to the point.
Today I’m going to show you the world’s 15 most expensive Faberge Eggs. Here’s is the list:
15.RoseBud Faberge Egg
14.Hen Faberge Egg
13.The Winter Faberge Egg
12.The Fifteenth Anniversary Egg
11.Third Imperial Egg
10.The Coronation Faberge Egg
9.Renaissance Egg
8.Gatchina Palace Egg
7.Lilies of The Valley Egg
6.The Orange Tree Egg
5.The Order of St. George Egg
4.Memory of Azov Egg
3.Diamond Trellis Egg
2.Twelve Monogram Egg
1.Flower Basket Egg
The description of the Faberge eggs mentioned above is given below:
FIFTEEN
RoseBud Faberge Egg
This Faberge egg was created by Michael Perchin in 1895. Nicholas II wanted to gift it to the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. This egg was the first gift to Alexandra from Nicholas.
The surface of the egg is colored in strawberry red and decorated with multi-colored gold, rose-cut diamond. Total 9 RoseBud eggs were made by then.
Inside the egg, there was an enameled yellow rosebud with two surprise gifts. The gifts were a ruby pendant and a golden diamond crown which is lost now.
This egg symbolizes the married couple’s first Easter and love for each other.
The present owner of Rosebud Faberge Egg is Victor Vekselberg. The price of this egg was 3,250 rubles.
In 2004, Viktor Vekselberg bought one of the nine eggs including other imperial eggs. Victor bought the part of these Faberge egg collections for $100 million.
FOURTEEN
Hen Faberge Egg
This was the first fabricated egg. The creator of this Faberge egg was Erik Koliin. It was made for Alexander III as a gift to his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.
This egg was made from an enameled translucent white shell. Opening the white shell, it reveals a very shiny gold yolk which is made with eighteen-karat gold. A mini golden hen comes from the gold yolk with two surprises.
Inside the golden hen was a miniature of The Imperial crown decorated with diamonds and a gold ruby pendant. Both gifts are still missing.
The Empress Maria Feodorovna was so impressed by the Hen Faberge egg. So Peter Carl Faberge was appointed by Alexander III to create a new Easter egg every single year on Easter Festivals.
THIRTEEN
The Winter Faberge Egg
This Faberge egg was made by Albert Holstrom in 1913. But the designer of this egg was Alma Theresia Pill. Nicholas II gave it to Maria Feodorovna as a present.
Once this was the most expensive Faberge egg ever. This most expensive and beautiful fabricated egg represents the changing seasons from winter to spring.
It was designed with an ice theme inspired by the icicle seen. Rock crystal, platinum, gold, 1,308 rose-cut diamonds, replicate the ice crystal, and many other materials are used to decorate it.
The surprise in the egg was a flower basket made from platinum. The original cost of this Faberge egg was 24,600 silver rubles.
In 2002, The Emir of Qatar bought it for $9.6 million. Now it’s located in the Qatar Authority Museum.
TWELVE
The Fifteenth Anniversary Egg
This egg was created by Mikhail Perkhin in the year 1911. It was also made for Nicholas II, who presented it to The Empress Alexandra Feodorovna on their fifteenth anniversary.
The surface of this egg was made by white-green enamel color and also decorated with sixteen miniature paintings. The paintings were the portrait of Nicholas II, The Russian Imperial Historical Museum, The inaugural of the Alexander III Bridge, and other historical objects.
The original cost of this egg was 16,600 silver rubles. Now it’s collected at the Faberge Museum.
ELEVEN
Third Imperial Egg
This is an Easter egg clock made for Alexander III in the year 1887. The creator of this egg was August Holmstrom.
This egg was created with a solid 18 karat gold. The egg is held up by three sets of corbel-like lion’s paws.
The release button is made by a large diamond. When Pressing it, the surprise comes out with a gold clock.
This egg was lost during the Russian Revolutions and untraced for so many years. In 2012, it was rediscovered. The cost was 2,160 silver rubles.
TEN
The Coronation Faberge Egg
This Faberge egg was the creation of Mikhail Perkhin for Nicholas II who presented it to Empress Alexandria in 1897.
The egg is made from gold with translucent lime yellow enamel. It represents the robe worn by the Empress at her coronation.
An 18th-century imperial coach was created in this egg with gold. This was the exact replica of the coach that carried the Empress to her coronation.
The egg’s initial cost was 5,650 rubles. The current owner of this Faberge egg is Victor Vekselberg.
NINE
Renaissance Egg
This Faberge egg was the last Easter present to Maria Feodorovna from Alexander III before his death. This egg is also made by Mikhail Perkhin from the house of Faberge.
The surface of this egg is made from translucent opaque white enamel color. The upper part is decorated with diamond and ruby flowers. The lower part starts with a border of strawberry-red enamel color and is decorated with some berry, leaves, and buckles design.
On either side of the egg are two handles set in the shape of a lion’s head. The bottom is decorated with some green enamel leaves and red enamel flowers over the white enamel colored ground.
The original cost of this egg was 4,750 rubles. Now, this egg is owned by Victor Vekselberg, who bought one of the nine RoseBud Faberge Eggs in 2004.
EIGHT
Gatchina Palace Egg
This egg was made for Nicholas II in the year 1901. Nicholas II wanted to gift it to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.
This egg was created by Mikhail Perkhin. It’s built from gold, silver-gilt, portrait diamond, rock crystal, pearls, and enamel.
The white enamel surface is painted with green and golden leaves. This egg has 12 portioned lines that are crafted with pearls and diamonds.
The egg reveals a surprise gold miniature replica of the Gatchina Palace.
This is the palace where the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna takes residence. This was made to commemorate their memories of the palace.
The initial cost of this Faberge egg was 6,850. It’s collected in Walters Art Museum permanently.
SEVEN
Lilies of The Valley Egg
This Faberge egg was made for Alexander III in 1898.
The design of this egg symbolizes the lily plants of the valley. The egg is covered with pink enamel color and ornate with different sizes of pearls and diamonds.
The egg is supported by four rakers, designed with green enamel leaves, decorated with rose-cut diamonds and rubies. There are three portraits of Nicholas II and his two daughters; Duchess Olga and Duchess Tatiana.
Its original cost was 6,700 rubles. The present owner of this beautiful Faberge egg is Victor Vekselberg.
SIX
The Orange Tree Egg
This Faberge egg is also known as the Bay Tree Egg. Nicholas II presented it to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1911.
This egg is covered with green enamel color and decorated with rubies, diamonds, pearls, white onyx, and gold. The surprise was inside the leaves.
In 1927, this egg was sold to the jewelers of Wartski named Emanuel Snowman. Wartski again sold it to Allan Gibson Hughes in 1934.
The egg has passed the hands of several owners and ends with Victor Vekselberg who bought it in 2004.
FIVE
The Order of St. George Egg
This Faberge egg was made for Nicholas II in the year 1916. Nicholas II presented the egg to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.
This was the last Easter egg which the Dowager Empress received from his son.
This egg was made during world war I. It represents the Order of St. George that was awarded to Emperor Nicholas II and his son.
This Faberge egg wasn’t made with surprise and decorated with so many precious stones. It’s a simple fabricated egg.
Inside the egg, there were two small portraits of Nicholas II and his son, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaievich.
FOUR
Memory of Azov Egg
This egg was made in the year 1891. Empress Maria Feodorovna got this present from his husband Alexander III on Easter of this year.
This egg was designed by Mikhail Perkin and Yuri Nicolai. The design of this egg was taken from the Louis XV style. This is covered by golden rococo scrolls with diamonds and golden flowers.
Inside the egg, there was a mini replica of the Pamiat Azova made with 18 karat gold.
THREE
Diamond Trellis Egg
This Faberge egg was made by August Holmstrom in 1892. This Imperial Faberge egg was also made for Alexander III to present Empress Maria Feodorovna as a yearly Easter gift.
The egg is made from jadeite, gold, rose-cut diamonds, and lined with white satin. This egg is supported by three silver putti that represent the three sons of the Imperial couple.
The surprise of this egg was an automaton of an elephant made with ivory.
The egg is now owned by an American couple, Artie and Dorothy Mc Ferrin.
TWO
Twelve Monogram Egg
This egg was made for Nicholas II in 1896. And, this Faberge egg is also known as the Alexander III portrait egg. This is one of the 4 special commemorations of Tsar Alexander III.
This was made from a dark blue enamel color with a design of red gold. There were six panels decorated with diamonds and monograms of Alexander and Maria Feodorovna.
ONE
Flower Basket Egg
This egg was made by Mikhail Perkin in 1901 for Nicholas II to present Empress Alexandra.
There is no hidden surprise in this egg. It’s designed as an egg-shaped basket that includes a bouquet of mock orange, pansies, calla lilies, cornflowers, and morning glories flowers. This egg is held by a blue-white enamel stand and with a gold handle decorated with diamonds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Faberge eggs so valuable?
Faberge eggs are one of the most expensive objects in the world. Now maybe you are wondering why these eggs are so valuable?
Actually, these eggs were designed with many aristocratic jewels and precious stones which made their price so high. Besides the eggs’ relation with the emperors also makes them overpriced.
Who owns most Faberge eggs?
Before the Russian Revolution, the owner of the most Faberge eggs was the Russian Imperial Family. But during the Russian Revolution, many eggs were lost and later were rediscovered.
Then these most demandable art pieces have passed several ownerships. At Present some eggs are collected by Faberge company, some are collected by museums and some private collectors.
What is inside a Faberge egg?
Basically, Faberge eggs were used as gifts, so there was usually a gift inside every egg.
Different Faberge eggs have different surprises inside.
Most of these gifts were like pendants made with diamonds, pearls, or gold. Again, many of them were diamond royal crown miniatures.
There also found gold clocks inside some of these fabricated eggs.
Which Faberge eggs are still missing?
Many lost eggs have been rediscovered and are housed in various museums and private collections. But some eggs are still untraced.
There are still 7 eggs missing. They are:
1.Hen with Sapphire Pendant
2.Cherub with Chariot
3.Necessaire
4.Mauve
5.Empire Nephrite
6.Royal Danish
7.Alexander III Commemorative.
About Dawson Kutch
Dawson Kutch is a born and raised Alaskan who loves the outdoors and everything it has to offer. Kutch has been an avid hunter and fisher his entire life, and takes great pride in providing for himself and his family. While he enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, Kutch also has a passion for fashion and loves to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. In his free time, Kutch enjoys spending time with his wife and one young daughter. He is always looking to learn more and better himself, both as a writer and as a person.
