A gold Egg with a mosaic of dark blue lapislazuli formed a the night sky, inlaid paillons being the stars. In the front, a pair of gold gates fashioned to resemble wrought iron, are supported on both sides by carved lapislazuli pilasters.

When opened, the gates reveal a gold panel engraved with a garden view of Peterhof. The back of the egg is set with a lapislazuli Romanov Eagle, carved in relief above the date, 1917, inlaid in engraved gold. The interior is fitted for a surprise, which is now missing.

According to experts, the body of the Egg is probably Fabergé, the additions, the Imperial crown, double headed eagle, the engraved gates and the jewels may well be later additions to the original lapislazuli body with the stars and the date.

1917 in production, possibly for a member of the Imperial family. 1923 owned by Dr. & Mrs. Lynn, Harbin, China. 1976 sold by Christie's Geneva from the Collection of Dr. & Mrs. Lynn, to a Herr Attinger, Zurich, Switzerland acting as agent for a private person.

The Chinese provenance of the Egg can be explained by the fact that numerous Russian "émigrés" fled eastward in 1917. The city of Harbin appears frequently in literature relating to the turbulent events in Russia at that time. It is likely that émigrés sold valuables in Harbin and Shanghai just as they did in Paris and London.

excerpts and picture from: http://www.mieks.com/Faberge2/Eggs.htm