Fabergé Winter Egg Shatters Records with $28 Million Auction Sale

A rare Fabergé Winter Egg has sold for a staggering £22.9 million. The sale happened Tuesday at Christie’s auction house in London. This price sets a new world auction record for the legendary jeweler.

The exquisite piece was commissioned by Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II. He gave it to his mother for Easter in 1913. According to Christie’s, strong international collector demand drove the final price well above estimates.

Craftsmanship and History of an Imperial Masterpiece

The egg is carved from delicate rock crystal. It is adorned with approximately 4,500 rose-cut diamonds. The piece stands just 14 centimeters tall.

Inside holds a platinum basket. The basket contains a bouquet of white quartz anemones. Christie’s specialist Margo Oganesian called it one of Fabergé’s finest technical achievements.

Only 50 Imperial Easter Eggs were ever made. Today, just 43 are known to exist. This scarcity makes every example immensely valuable to collectors.

The egg has a tumultuous history. It was sold by the Soviet government in the 1920s. It was later lost for nearly two decades before being rediscovered in 1994.

Market Impact and Enduring Legacy

The sale shatters the previous Fabergé record. The Rothschild Egg sold for about £9 million in 2007. This new price signals booming interest in historical jewels.

Wealthy collectors, particularly Russians, seek these pieces. They represent a direct link to pre-revolutionary history. The market for imperial artifacts remains very strong.

Experts note the result reaffirms Fabergé’s enduring significance. The combination of rarity, artistry, and history is unmatched. Objects with such a clear royal provenance continue to command premium prices at auction.

The record-breaking sale of the Fabergé Winter Egg highlights the timeless appeal of imperial craftsmanship. This landmark result solidifies the egg’s status as a pinnacle of jeweler’s art. It also confirms the robust market for unique historical treasures.

Thought you’d like to know

Who bought the Fabergé Winter Egg?

Christie’s has not publicly disclosed the buyer’s identity. The auction house confirmed it was an international collector. The sale involved strong bidding from several parties.

How many Fabergé Imperial Eggs are left?

Fabergé created 50 Imperial Eggs for the Romanov family. Only 43 of those eggs have been located and verified today. Seven imperial eggs remain missing.

What was the previous record for a Fabergé egg?

The previous auction record was held by the Rothschild Egg. It sold for nearly £9 million in 2007. The Winter Egg’s price more than doubles that previous high.

Why is the Winter Egg so valuable?

Its value comes from imperial provenance, extreme rarity, and masterful craftsmanship. It is considered one of Fabergé’s most beautiful and technically complex creations. Its fascinating history of loss and rediscovery adds to its allure.

Where has the egg been since 1913?

After the Russian Revolution, it was sold by the Soviet state. It entered private collections in Britain and was lost from public view for 20 years. It reappeared at auction in Geneva in 1994.