Memory of Azov Egg
Gold, jasper, gold, diamonds, rubies, velvet, platinum, and aquamarine; l. 9.3 cm, d. 7 cm
by House of Fabergé, Mikhail Perkhin, and August Holmström, 1891
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow
Photograph by Stan Shebs, 2003

This egg is crafted from a solid block of heliotrope jasper, with red and blue flecks, and its exterior is adorned with elaborate embellishments in the Louis XV style. Curving, asymmetrical rococo scrolls of yellow gold weave across the surface, studded with bright diamonds and delicate chased gold flowers. The seam where the two egg halves meet is accentuated by a wide band of fluted gold, set with a clasp featuring a single ruby teardrop flanked by two brilliant diamonds. Opening the egg reveals a luxurious interior lined with plush green velvet. The surprise it contains is a crafted miniature replica of the Imperial Russian cruiser Memory of Azov. This miniature ship is made from red and yellow gold, with intricate details rendered in platinum. Tiny diamond windows glitter along the hull, while the delicate rigging is reproduced with astonishing precision. The name Azov is inscribed on the stern in tiny lettering. The miniature ship rests on a base of cool aquamarine, mimicking the colour of the sea, and framed in a golden ring with a hinged loop. The miniature commemorated a significant but ultimately ill-fated journey undertaken by the future Tsar Nicholas II and his brother Grand Duke George aboard the real Memory of Azov cruiser to the Far East in 1890–1891. This trip, intended to broaden their horizons, was marred by Grand Duke George's worsening health and a near-fatal assassination attempt on Nicholas in Japan.