Moscow Kremlin (Fabergé Egg)
Encyclopedia
The Moscow Kremlin Egg is a jewelled
Easter egg
made under the supervision of the Russian
jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
in 1906 for Tsar Nicholas II
of Russia. It was presented by Nicolas II as an Easter gift to his wife, the Czarina Alexandra Fyodorovna. It is currently held in the Kremlin Armoury
Museum in Moscow
, and it is one of the few Fabergé eggs that have never left Russia.
s and was inspired by the architecture of the Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspenski) in Moscow. This catherdral was where all the Tsars of Russia were crowned, including Nicholas II himself.
The Cathedral dome (in white opalescent Vitreous enamel
) is removable, and the remarkably crafted interior of the church can be seen. Its carpets, tiny enameled icons and High Altar on an oval glass plate are made visible through four triple windows, surmounted by a gold cupola
and flanked by two square, two circular stylized turrets, the former based on the Spassky Tower. The tower bears the Coat of arms of the Russian Empire and the Coat of arms of Moscow
, inset with 'chiming clocks'. It stands on a crenellated gold base and octagonal white onyx
plinth designed as a pyramid, and built of smaller pyramids
(1904-1905). This was followed by the assassination in the Kremlin of Nicholas' favorite uncle and brother-in-law, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich
. So instead the egg was only presented for Easter, 1906. The egg was kept in the Alexandra Fyodorovna’s Mauve Sitting Room in the Alexander Palace
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
Easter egg
Easter egg
Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans...
made under the supervision of the Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Karl Fabergé also known as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé in Russia was a Russian jeweller of Baltic German-Danish and French origin, best known for the famous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane materials.-Early...
in 1906 for Tsar Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
of Russia. It was presented by Nicolas II as an Easter gift to his wife, the Czarina Alexandra Fyodorovna. It is currently held in the Kremlin Armoury
Kremlin Armoury
The Kremlin Armory is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1808 and located in the Moscow Kremlin .The Kremlin Armoury originated as the royal arsenal in 1508. Until the transfer of the court to St Petersburg, the Armoury was in charge of producing, purchasing and storing weapons,...
Museum in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and it is one of the few Fabergé eggs that have never left Russia.
Design
The Moscow Kremlin Egg is by far the largest of the Fabergé eggFabergé egg
A Fabergé egg is any one of the thousands of jeweled eggs made by the House of Fabergé from 1885 to 1917. Most were miniature eggs that were popular gifts at Eastertide...
s and was inspired by the architecture of the Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspenski) in Moscow. This catherdral was where all the Tsars of Russia were crowned, including Nicholas II himself.
The Cathedral dome (in white opalescent Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
) is removable, and the remarkably crafted interior of the church can be seen. Its carpets, tiny enameled icons and High Altar on an oval glass plate are made visible through four triple windows, surmounted by a gold cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
and flanked by two square, two circular stylized turrets, the former based on the Spassky Tower. The tower bears the Coat of arms of the Russian Empire and the Coat of arms of Moscow
Coat of arms of Moscow
The Coat of Arms of Moscow depicts a horseman with a spear in his hand slaying a basilisk and is identified with Saint George and the Dragon. The heraldic emblem of Moscow has been an integral part of the Coat of Arms of Russia since the 16th century...
, inset with 'chiming clocks'. It stands on a crenellated gold base and octagonal white onyx
Onyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
plinth designed as a pyramid, and built of smaller pyramids
Surprise
The surprise in this egg is music. The base of the egg contains a gold music box that plays two cherubim chants, traditional Easter hymns can be played when a clockwork mechanism is wound up by a gold key. One of the hymns is the "Izhe Khveruviny", a favorite hymn of Nicholas II.History
The egg commemorates the return to Moscow of the royal couple Nicholas II and Alexandra Fyodorovna in 1903. They had tended to avoid the historical capital due to its ill-omened association with a riot during Nicholas’s coronation, where hundreds of Moscovites were crushed to death. The egg itself was supposed to be presented in 1904 as engraved at the foot in white enamel on a round gold plate is the date. But the delivery was delayed because of the Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
(1904-1905). This was followed by the assassination in the Kremlin of Nicholas' favorite uncle and brother-in-law, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia was a son of Emperor Alexander II of Russia...
. So instead the egg was only presented for Easter, 1906. The egg was kept in the Alexandra Fyodorovna’s Mauve Sitting Room in the Alexander Palace
Alexander Palace
The Alexander Palace is a former imperial residence at Tsarskoye Selo, on a plateau around 30 minutes by train from St Petersburg. It is known as the favourite residence of the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II, and his family and their initial place of imprisonment after the revolution that...