This December, a legendary Fabergé creation—the Winter Egg—will once again step into the spotlight, carrying with it the weight of Imperial history and unrivalled craftsmanship. Commissioned in 1913 by Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, the piece remains one of the most extraordinary expressions of the jeweller’s art.
The vision came from Alma Theresia Pihl, Fabergé’s most acclaimed female designer, while the meticulous execution was carried out by workmaster Albert Holmström. Carved from rock crystal, the egg is adorned with frost-like patterns, platinum borders and diamond-set snowflakes, its icy beauty concealing a delicate surprise within.
Inside rests a platinum trelliswork basket, suspended from a hook, brimming with white quartz anemones. Each flower is brought to life with golden stems, nephrite leaves, and glittering demantoid garnets at their centres, all resting on a bed of gold moss. The details are so precise that they mimic nature itself. The base, shaped like melting ice, is further set with diamonds and platinum accents, grounding the entire creation in a vision of frozen elegance.
Of the 50 Imperial Easter Eggs made for the Romanov dynasty, only a handful remain in private collections. The Winter Egg, once thought lost for nearly two decades, has re-emerged over the years to set record-breaking prices. With its provenance, rarity and extraordinary artistry, it is once again poised to capture global attention this winter—possibly becoming the most valuable Fabergé work ever offered.