Resurrection Egg
| Resurrection Fabergé egg | |
|---|---|
| Current owner | |
| Individual or institution | Viktor Vekselberg |
| Year of acquisition | 2004 |
The Resurrection egg is a jewelled enameled and rock crystal Easter egg made by Michael Perchin under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé before 1899.[1]
Long considered a Fabergé egg, it does not bear an inventory number. It has been postulated that the Resurrection egg is the missing surprise from the Renaissance egg.[1]
The egg depicts Jesus rising from his tomb, and is the only Fabergé egg to explicitly reference the Easter story [2]
Surprise
There is no surprise in this egg, possibly because it is a surprise itself.[2]
History
The Resurrection egg bears the mark of Michael Perchin, and assay marks indicating that it was made in St. Petersburg before 1899.[1]
Long considered a Fabergé Imperial egg, and recognised as such by leading Fabergé experts, it does not bear an inventory number. It has been postulated by Christopher Forbes that the Resurrection egg is the missing surprise from the Renaissance egg, as it perfectly fits the curvature of the Renaissance Egg's shell, has a similar decoration in enamel on the base, and features a pearl, which is mentioned on the invoice for the Renaissance egg but not present on that egg.[1]
The Resurrection egg was bought in 1922 by a London art dealer, and sold at Christie's, in 1934. Owned by Lord Grantchester, it was bought from his estate by Manhattan art dealers A La Vieille Russie. In 1978 A La Vieille Russie negotiated a private sale of the Resurrection egg and the First Hen Egg to the Forbes Collection.
In 2004 it was sold as part of Forbes Collection to Viktor Vekselberg. Vekselberg purchased some nine Imperial eggs, as part of the collection, for almost $100 million. [3] The egg is now housed in the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
See also
References
External links
- A detailed article on the 'Resurrection' egg, from treasuresofimperialrussia.com