ca. 1903 -- originally presented by Czar Nicholas II to his wife, the Empress Alexandra Fedorovna in 1903. This lavish rococo-revival style egg was made by Faberge to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg in 1703 by Peter the Great. The shell of this egg is richly decorated with 675 hand-set Austrian crystals. The egg's extravagant design pays tribute to both Peter the Great and Czar Nicholas II. Inside the egg is a miniature of the equestrian statue of Peter the Great that still stands on the banks of the Neva river in Russia. Height 4 1/2" without stand.
|