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Name |
Mosaic Egg |
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Date |
1914 |
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Provenance |
Presented by Nicholas II to Czarina Alexandra Fyodorovna |
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Made in |
St. Petersburg |
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Work-master |
Albert Holmström - designed by Alma Theresia Pihl |
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Marks |
C. Fabergé, G. [sic] Fabergé, 1914, A. F. (Alexandra Feodorovna) |
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Media |
gold, platinum, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, topazes, sapphires, garnets, pearls |
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Size |
9,5 cm tall - 7 cm diameter - miniature: 7,9 cm tall, 5,5 cm wide, 2,9 cm deep |
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Techniques |
enamel, camaieu |
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Kept in |
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Collection |
Click on the thumbnails to see a bigger image |
This beautiful Easter Egg consists of a system of yellow gold belts, to which ia applied a platinum network partially pavé-set with diamonds and colored gems, including sapphires, rubies, emeralds, topaz quartz and green garnets in flower patterns. This technique gives the look of petit point tapestry work, partly completed. It is divided into five oval panels set with half-pearls within lines of opaque white enamel. Five brilliant diamonds are set at each intersection. The Egg is further decorated by grilles of rose-cut diamond scrolls and the rounder end is set with a moonstone through which may be seen the gold initials of the tsarina in russian characters, inlaid in an opaque, pale pink enameled plaque serving as a foil.
The design books of Albert Holstrom record the central motif of the panels in a brooch dated 24 July 1913. The design is by Alma Theresia Pihl, daughter of Faberge's workmaster Oskar Pihl.
The surprise is a jewelled and enamelled miniature frame painted with the profiles in camaieu brun of the five Imperial children on an opalescent pink enamel ground surrounded by green enamel husk and pearls, surmounted by an Imperial crown set with rose diamonds.
The reverse is enamelled with the names of the imperial children, a vase of flowers, and the date "1914". The oval base with vase-shaped white enamel stem is set with rose diamonds, emeralds, and two suspended pearls. The surprise is concealed inside and held in place by two gold clips.
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