Standart Egg
Gold, diamonds, pearls, lapis lazuli, rock crystal, enamel, and platinum ; h. 15.3 cm
by House of Fabergé, and Henrik Wigström, 1909
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow
After a photograph by Shakko, 2011

This egg in the Renaissance style uses rock crystal that has been divided in two parts, with the top section hollowed out and polished to transparency, allowing the surprise to be displayed. The bottom section is solid, but has been carved in the form of waves where the surprise rests. The egg rests horizontally on a gold mount, with the perimeters of both halves decorated with bands of gold, where an inscription 'Standart' along with the year 1909 is etched. The bottom half features a horizontal and vertical band of green enamel leaves and tiny diamonds, dividing it in two. Two crowned eagles sculpted from lapis lazuli, a deep blue semi-precious stone, flank the egg on either side. Each eagle suspends a large, drop-pearl from its talons. The shaft of the egg is formed by two dolphins intertwined at the tail, also carved from lapis lazuli. This support structure transitions into a wider oval base made of rock crystal, which is decorated with a band of white enamel inlaid with laurel garlands and rows of small diamonds. Additional green enamel details depict laurel branches intertwined with the diamonds. The surprise is a precise miniature replica of the Imperial yacht, Standart, from gold, platinum, and enamel, and can be removed when the egg is opened. In 1927, it was documented that the egg had sustained damage, and it has since been restored.