Red Cross Triptych Egg
Silver, gold, enamel, watercolour on gold, glass; h. 8.6, d. 6.4 cm
by House of Fabergé, Henrik Wigström, and Vasilii Zuiev?, 1915
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio

This egg features a minimalist design, reflecting wartime austerity prevailing in Russia during World War I. Crafted from silver and completely encased in smooth opalescent white enamel, two raised bold red enamel crosses dominate the exterior. Each cross features a central medallion adorned with painted miniature portraits of Olga and Tatiana, the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, in Red Cross uniforms. A hidden clasp, disguised as the front cross with the portrait of Tatiana, unlocks the egg. It hinges open to reveal a triptych. The central panel depicts the Harrowing of Hell, a scene significant in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, equivalent to the Resurrection. The two flanking panels feature figures of Saint Tatiana (left), and Saint Olga (right). The triptych itself is framed in gold and white enamel.