A Fabergé Imperial Winter Egg, commissioned by the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, as an Easter gift to his mother, sold for a record $30 million at auction on Tuesday.
Carved in rock crystal, the Winter Egg is considered one of Fabergé's finest creations for the Imperial family, according to Christie's.
Sitting on a crystal base made to look like melting ice, the egg is engraved inside with a frosted pattern, creating an almost 3D effect reminiscent of frosted glass or a frosted window.
When opened, it reveals a basket with intricately made spring flowers, symbolising spring after winter, resurrection, hope, and the Easter celebration.
Christie's head of department, Fabergé and Russian works of art, Margo Oganesian, said, "The Winter Egg is made of rock crystal as well as the base, and it’s set with platinum mounts covered with tiny rose-cut diamonds. We have the original invoice from Fabergé, and it actually lists the number of diamonds. It's 4,508 diamonds on the Winter Egg."
The egg was on offer at the 2 December 'The Winter Egg and Important Works by Faberge from a Princely Collection' sale during Christie's 'Classic Week' of auctions.
It sold for £22,895,000 ($30.20 million), the third time it has set a record, Christie's said in a statement on Tuesday.
Christie's previously sold the Winter Egg in Geneva in 1994 and New York in 2002. Both times, it set a world record price for a Faberge item sold at auction. In New York, it went for $9.6 million.
The sale is one of several Christie's is hosting during its 'Classic Week', running 2-11 December.
Among the highlights of its 'Old Masters Evening Sale', also on 2 December, is Dutch artist Gerrit Dou's first depiction of a musician, 'The Flute Player'.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million peop...
Counting is underway in Armenia’s parliamentary elections, with the results of the vote set to determine the makeup of the National Assembly and sha...
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S...
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships ...
Sirens rang out across multiple areas of Israel on Sunday night after missiles were launched from Iran towards the country, the Israeli military said...
Iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's painting 'El sueño (La cama)' sold for $54.7 million at a Sotheby's auction on Thursday, setting a new auction record for the artist and making it the most expensive work by a woman artist ever sold at auction.
A portrait painting by 20th century Viennese artist Gustav Klimt sold for $236.4 (including fees) at Sotheby's on Tuesday night in what the auction house said was a record for a modern work of art.
A 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, known as the ‘Mellon Blue’, sold for 20.5 million Swiss francs ($26.6 million) at Christie’s auction in Geneva on Tuesday (11 November), including fees. The pear-shaped gem had been estimated to sell between $20 million and $30 million.
A piece of rock believed to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth has sold for $5.3 million at a geological and archaeological auction in New York on Wednesday.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French artist, filmmaker and author best known for the acclaimed graphic novel Persepolis, has died at the age of 56, the French presidency announced on Thursday.
Colombian singer Shakira will perform the official World Cup song, "Dai Dai", at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City, FIFA announced on Friday (5 June).
Charles Leclerc has signed a new contract to extend his stay with Ferrari, reinforcing his long-term commitment to Formula 1’s most iconic team ahead of his home race in Monaco.
Singer Sabrina Carpenter has been granted a temporary restraining order against a man accused of stalking her and attempting to force entry into her California home, according to court documents.
Global pop-star Taylor Swift has announced the release of a new original song for Disney and Pixar’s animated film "Toy Story 5", following days of online speculation among fans.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment