A Frozen Jewel Poised to Make History
Ice is forecast at Christie’s London this December, as one of the world’s most extraordinary treasures — the Fabergé Winter Egg — returns to the spotlight. Expected to fetch over $27 million, this dazzling Imperial creation could soon claim the title of the most valuable Fabergé work ever sold at auction.
An Imperial Gift of Unmatched Elegance
Commissioned in 1913 by Tsar Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, the Winter Egg stands as one of the most intricate and imaginative works in Fabergé’s storied history. Designed by Alma Theresia Pihl, one of Fabergé’s few female designers, and brought to life by master craftsman Albert Holmström, the egg embodies a perfect harmony of artistry, symbolism, and technical mastery.
Fabergé’s Winter Egg — a diamond-studded Imperial masterpiece set to dazzle at Christie’s London this December.
An Icy Wonder in Crystal and Diamonds
Finely carved from rock crystal, the egg captures the ethereal beauty of winter through its diamond-set snowflakes and frosted patterns. Two platinum borders conceal a delicate hinge, revealing the iconic Fabergé “surprise”: a platinum basket of white-quartz anemones, each flower meticulously detailed with gold stems, nephrite leaves, and demantoid garnet centers.
The exquisite composition rests on a rock-crystal base shaped like melting ice, accented with even more diamonds and platinum — a breathtaking tribute to nature’s fleeting perfection.
A Rarity Among Rarities
Only 50 Imperial Easter Eggs were ever created for the Romanov Dynasty, most of which are now housed in museums around the world. The Winter Egg, once believed lost between 1975 and 1994, remains one of only seven still held privately — making its reappearance on the auction stage all the more remarkable.
This marks the third time the Winter Egg has been publicly auctioned, having already set records in 1994 and 2002. With Christie’s estimating its value at “in excess of £20 million,” the egg could surpass the Rothschild Egg’s £8.9 million record set in 2007, reaffirming its status as a true icon of Imperial luxury.
A Legacy Encased in Crystal
Beyond its staggering price, the Fabergé Winter Egg symbolizes the height of craftsmanship, creativity, and opulence from a bygone era. Its enduring mystique and storied provenance continue to captivate collectors, art historians, and luxury connoisseurs alike.
As the auction approaches on December 7 at Christie’s London, all eyes will be on this diamond-encrusted relic of Imperial Russia — a timeless creation that proves true artistry never melts away.