LONDON — An extraordinary piece of imperial Russian history achieved unprecedented auction success on Tuesday when the legendary Winter Egg by Fabergé commanded a staggering £22.9 million ($30.2 million) at Christie’s London. This monumental sale establishes a new world record for any Fabergé creation ever sold at auction.
Crafted in 1913 during the final years of the Romanov dynasty, the Winter Egg represents one of only seven imperial Fabergé eggs remaining in private ownership. The masterpiece stands merely 4 inches (10 centimeters) tall yet embodies extraordinary craftsmanship with its exquisitely carved rock crystal shell adorned with a delicate platinum snowflake pattern set with approximately 4,500 brilliant diamonds.
The egg’s magical design reveals an intricate surprise interior—a removable basket crafted from bejeweled quartz flowers symbolizing the arrival of spring. This artistic marvel was originally commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, continuing a royal tradition initiated by his father Alexander III in 1885.
Notably, the Winter Egg holds distinction as one of only two imperial Fabergé eggs designed by a female artist, Alma Pihl, whose other creation remains in the possession of the British royal family. The egg’s journey through history reflects Russia’s turbulent past—sold by communist authorities in the 1920s for merely £450, it disappeared for decades before resurfacing at auction in 1994 for 7 million Swiss francs.
Margo Oganesian, head of Christie’s Russian art department, described the piece as ‘the Mona Lisa of decorative arts,’ emphasizing its unparalleled significance in the world of collectible art objects. Of the 50+ imperial eggs created by Peter Carl Fabergé between 1885-1917, only 43 survive today, with most residing in museum collections, making this private sale particularly exceptional.