1890, St Petersburg

1890, St Petersburg

Identifier
L.2011.66.53a–c
Transfer of custody
Victoria and Albert Museum
Acquisition
Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation
Collection
Material
Technique
Depiction
Dimension
6.7 cm (height)
6.7 cm (width)
Production time
Production place

Description

Czar Alexander presented this egg to his wife, Maria Feodorovna, on Easter 1890. The egg is extraordinary in its conception and technical virtuosity. It possesses one of the most sophisticated palettes of all the imperial Easter eggs. Divided into twelve sections in opalescent pink enamel, it opens on a hinge to reveal its surprise—a folding ten-panel gold screen in a crimson velvet pocket. Resting on Greek-key feet, the screen bears ten miniatures of the empress's favorite Danish and Russian retreats. A nostalgic reminder of her home country, the egg accompanied her on her travels.From left to right: imperial yacht Polar Star; Bernsdorff Palace, Copenhagen; Emperor Villa in Fredensborg Park, Hvidøre, Copenhagen; Fredensborg Palace, summer residence, Copenhagen; Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen; Kronborg Castle, Elsinore; Cottage Palace, Alexandria Park, Peterhof; Cottage Palace, Alexandria Park, Peterhof (south main entrance); Catchina Palace, Saint Petersburg; imperial tacht Tsaverna.[Wolfram Koeppe, 2011]