FEATURE
Royal Easter
Eggs
By Philip Hoare
F.T.V.I
Photo: Concealed inside this elaborate
shell is an exact replica of the Imperial
coach used in 1896 at the Coronation
of Nicholas and Alexandra in Moscow.
With Easter fast approaching
when we look forward to our
chocolate eggs it brings to mind
the extraordinary and unique
eggs created by Carl Fabergé,
the finest jeweller who ever
lived.
The egg has been a symbol of
culture and religion since ancient
times, hence the regularly used
Latin inscription ‘Omne vivum ex
ovo’ (every living thing comes from
an egg).
The Romans put eggs in their
tombs and during Pagan times
eggs were part of the celebration
of the Spring Equinox. During the
Middle Ages the egg was adopted
by Christians to signify the rebirth
of Christ and it was during these
medieval times that eggs were first
decorated with religious symbols
and were gifts to distribute during
the holy ceremonies of Easter. Silver
and gold mounted ostrich eggs were
used in the holy ceremonies of this
period and took on great significance
as holy objects sometimes housing
reliquaries.
The first record of a Royal
connection for eggs was in the Court
of Louis XVI of France where eggs
of various species large and small
were beautifully painted by the top
miniature artists of the period and
presented as gifts at Court; often
they contained beautiful items of
jewellery or other tokens of esteem.
Eventually manufactured eggs were
produced especially to contain
gifts and by the early 19th Century
the chocolate egg had evolved and
spread throughout Europe.
For the Russian Royals like all
Christian Royal Dynasties in Europe
Easter was a very special time and
this is where the story of the Fabergé
egg began in 1885.The story goes
that Fabergé, already an established
and creative jeweller in St Petersburg
proposed to Emperor Alexander III
that he would make an egg for the
Tsarina, Maria Feodorovna, with a
special surprise inside it. The Tsar
accepted the challenge and Fabergé
created an ordinary hens egg or so
it appeared but when opened it was
an object of great and exceptional
beauty with jewels and enamel.
Thereafter, he was commissioned
yearly to produce an egg for the
Tsarina for each Easter and from the
time of Tsar Nicholas II he produced
two eggs each Easter one for the
Tsarina and one for the Dowager
Empress.
In all Fabergé produced 57 of these
magnificent eggs between 1885 and
1917 but with the Revolution and
the overthrow of the Romanovs the
commission ceased. Eight of the 57
eggs are missing lost in the turmoil
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of the Russian Revolution; hopefully
they will be rediscovered at some
time in the future. They may be
laying unclaimed in a secret
Swiss bank vault. However,
we lesser mortals may not be
indulged with fine jewelled
eggs but we can still look
forward at least to the
chocolate variety.
They are all made of
precious metals or hard
stones decorated with
combinations of enamels
and gemstones. The designs
were so diverse and intricate
that each one merits a story
of its own. My favourite is
the 1900 Trans-Siberian
Railway egg, which is
outwardly quite a dull
grey with a map of the
railway route engraved on
it, but inside is a perfect and
detailed entire train.
After the revolution the
Communist Government
sold off the royal collection including
the eggs in order to raise revenue
and they now reside in museums
and private collections throughout
the world; several are owned by Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
None of these exceptional eggs
has come on to the open market
for many years; they are quite
priceless. They are the ultimate
objects of beauty so finely executed
but they also have a great spiritual
- life
and religious significance. Sadly
the majority of us have to settle for
the chocolate variety but if you ever
have the opportunity to view the
royal collection do not hesitate, as
their beauty will overwhelm you.
A very Happy Easter to all readers
of Island Life.
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