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Record-breaking sale of historic Fabergé egg
A Fabergé egg once owned by Russia's imperial family sold for £22.9 million ($30.2 million) in London on Tuesday, setting a new auction record for the legendary jeweler's work, Christie's announced.
Design and craftsmanship
The Winter Egg, standing 8.2 cm (3.2 inches) tall, was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II in 1913 as a gift for his mother. It features 4,500 diamonds, platinum snowflake motifs, and a rock crystal exterior carved by Carl Fabergé. Inside, a delicate basket of white quartz flowers is revealed when the egg is opened.
Alma Theresia Pihl, one of only two female workmasters at Fabergé's St. Petersburg workshop, designed the piece. Its intricate details and historical significance contributed to its record price.
Auction details and significance
The anonymous buyer's bid surpassed the previous Fabergé egg auction record of £8.9 million, set in 2007. Christie's specialist Margo Oganesian called the sale a "new world auction record" for Fabergé, underscoring the egg's enduring cultural value.
"Today's result reaffirms the enduring significance of this masterpiece."
Margo Oganesian, Christie's
Historical context
Fabergé created just 50 eggs for the Romanov dynasty between 1885 and 1917, when Nicholas II abdicated. Only seven, including the Winter Egg, remain in private collections. The rest are either lost or held by museums and institutions.
Market implications
The sale highlights the growing demand for rare imperial artifacts, particularly those tied to Russia's pre-revolutionary history. Experts suggest the record price reflects both the egg's artistic merit and its scarcity.
