Lilies of the Valley Egg
Gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies, pearls, rock crystal, and watercolour on ivory; h. 15.1 cm (unopened)
by House of Fabergé, Mikhail Perkhin, and Johannes Zehngraf, 1898
Fabergé Museum, Saint Petersburg
After a photograph by Ninara, 2017

Art nouveau in style, the egg is made of gold, and its surface is entirely covered in a delicate rose-coloured enamel on guilloché. Four cabriole legs, formed from green gold and shaped like leaves, support the egg. Dewdrops fashioned from rose-cut diamonds glitter at the tips of the legs. Green enamel leaves encircle the body of the egg, interspersed with lilies of the valley flowers. These delicate blooms are crafted from pearls and accented with tiny rose-cut diamonds. Crisscrossed bands of rose-cut diamonds further embellish the design. An imperial crown, richly adorned with rose-cut diamonds and rubies, surmounts the egg. The surprise is revealed by twisting a discreet pearl button, and the crown lifts to reveal a hidden compartment within. Nestled inside are three small medallion miniatures, framed by rose-cut diamonds. These depict Tsar Nicholas II and his two eldest daughters, Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana. The date 5 April 1898 is engraved on the back of each portrait. The egg was sold with twelve others for $100 million in 2004, according to the then buyer, Viktor Vekselberg.