An antique Russian Imperial Presentation Miniature Egg Pendant by Faberge
This miniature egg is linked directly to the Czarist family, making it very rare and highly important. Such eggs, decorated with the cipher of Empress Maria Feodorovna, were given personally by the Empress to female members of the Royal family and ladies-in-waiting at Easter time. Very few have survived. The carved nephrite egg is mounted with gold suspension rings and applied with the cipher of Empress Maria Feodorovna (mother of Nicholas II) – interlaced Cyrillic letters ‘ М Ф ‘ beneath Imperial crown.
Height 3/4 in. (1,9 cm)
The ring is marked with 56 zolotnik Russian Imperial gold standard (14K – 583 gold) and master’s initials ‘ A.N ‘ for Faberge’s workmaster Anders Nevalainen. The initials are struck twice with a slight displacement.
Made in St. Petersburg between 1908 and 1917.