The Tsarevich Fabergé Egg is one in a series Fabergé egg,made under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé. It was created in 1912 for Empress Alexandra Feodorovna as a tribute by Fabergé to her son the Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia.
The egg is about 15 cm tall on its stand, with a diameter of 10 cm.The outer shell is blue lapis lazuli, with architectural, Louis XV-style gold cagework in a design of leafy scrolls. The gold motifs cover each joint, making the egg look as if it was carved from a single block of lapis. The goldwork includes two Imperial double-headed eagles, as well as cupids, canopies, floral scrolls, flower baskets and garlands. Two large diamonds, one at top and one at bottom, are encrusted into the egg’s surface, showing the initials of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the year 1912 and the Imperial crown. The location of the original stand is unknown, however it is thought to have not made it out of Russia when purchased by antiques dealer Armand Hammer.
The «surprise» inside is a Russian double-headed Imperial eagle with a miniature portrait of the Tsarevich Alexei, set in platinum and encrusted with diamonds. The Imperial eagle holds the orb and sceptre representative of the Romanov crown jewels. The intricate frame sits on a lapis lazuli base and can be completely removed from inside the egg. The portrait shows Alexei in his sailor suit, a favorite of the Tsarevich’s.
25 March 1912 O.S. presented to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, a gift from her husband Tsar Nicholas II of Russia at a cost of 28,597 rubles
1912-1916 housed in Alexandra Feodorovna’s Mauve Boudoir at the Alexander Palace,Tsarskoe Selo.
