Basket of Flowers Egg
Silver, parcel-gilt, gold, enamel, and diamonds; height 23 cm, diameter 10 cm
by House of Fabergé, and probably Mikhail Perkhin, 1901
The Royal Collection Trust, London

Instead of a solid egg shape, this egg takes the form of a basket with an arched handle set with diamonds and bearing fours bows. The basket itself is crafted from silver-gilt and an oyster guilloché enamel, and its surface decorated with a trellis pattern formed from rose diamonds. A vibrant bouquet of realistic wildflowers fills the interior. The blooms are of gold, enamelled in various colours and include pansies, cornflowers, daisies, mock orange, oats, and grasses. The moss filling is of green gold. The year 1901 is incorporated into the design using diamonds. This egg does not contain a surprise, and whether it was ever intended to have one remains a subject of debate. There is no documented evidence of a surprise, nor are there any markings on the egg itself that suggest a hidden compartment. The Basket of Flowers Egg stands out not just for its form, but also for its focus on natural beauty. While many Fabergé eggs incorporated intricate mechanisms or symbolic imagery, this egg celebrates the simple elegance of wildflowers. This shift in design reflects the personal taste of Alexandra Feodorovna, who was known for her love of gardens and botany. The blue enamel of the base replaced the original oyster-coloured foot, which was damaged during the Revolution.