Rosebud (Fabergé egg)
Encyclopedia
The Rosebud egg is a jewelled
enameled
Easter egg
made by Michael Perchin
under the supervision of the Russia
n jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
in 1895, for Nicholas II of Russia
, who presented the egg to his wife, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. It was the first egg that Nicholas presented to Alexandra.
ruby
pendant
. The crown was a reference to Alexandra Fyodorovna's new role as Empress of Russia, following the ascension to the throne by her husband, Nicholas II of Russia
.
, his son, Nicholas
married Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, who subsequently became Empress Alexandra of Russia, following the ascension to the throne by her husband, Nicholas II of Russia
. Princess Alix missed the rose
garden of Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt
, and so this egg reminded her of them during her first Easter
with her new husband. The familiar yellow rose in 1895 was the yellow China tea rose that had been introduced by Parkes from China in 1824, re-bloomed in fall and was a staple of milder gardens than Saint Petersburg, where it was not hardy. Yellow roses were the most valued ones in the Empress' native Germany.
The egg embodied Fabergé's embrace of Neo-Classicism, in opposition to the dominance of Art Nouveau
in late 19th century contemporary design. Fabergé charged 3,250 rubles for the egg.
In 1917 the egg was confiscated by the Russian Provisional Government
and later sold to Emanuel Snowman of the jewellers Wartski
around 1927. It was owned by a certain Charles Parsons in the 1930s, and was lost for decades, amid rumours that it had been damaged in a marital dispute. It was this damage that helped Malcolm Forbes
identify the egg when he purchased it in 1985 from the Fine Art Society
in London. In 2004 it was sold as part of the Forbes Collection to Viktor Vekselberg
. Vekselberg purchased some nine Imperial eggs from the collection, for almost $100 million.
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...
enameled
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...
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 by Michael Perchin
Michael Perchin
Michael Evlampievich Perchin was born in Petrozavodsk and died in St. Petersburg. He was one of the most important Fabergé workmasters next to Henrik Wigström. Perchin became the leading workmaster in the House of Fabergé in 1886 and supervised production of the eggs until his death in 1903...
under the supervision of the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n 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 1895, for Nicholas II of Russia
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...
, who presented the egg to his wife, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. It was the first egg that Nicholas presented to Alexandra.
Surprise
The egg opens like a bonbonnière to reveal a yellow-enamelled rosebud, in which the two surprises were originally contained. The surprises are missing, but they were a golden crown, with diamonds and rubies, and cabochonCabochon
A cabochon , from the Middle French caboche , is a gemstone which has been shaped and polished as opposed to faceted. The resulting form is usually a convex top with a flat bottom. Cutting en cabochon is usually applied to opaque gems, while faceting is usually applied to transparent stones...
ruby
Ruby
A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
pendant
Pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, when the ensemble may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging”...
. The crown was a reference to Alexandra Fyodorovna's new role as Empress of Russia, following the ascension to the throne by her husband, Nicholas II of Russia
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...
.
History
After the death of Alexander III of RussiaAlexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
, his son, Nicholas
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...
married Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, who subsequently became Empress Alexandra of Russia, following the ascension to the throne by her husband, Nicholas II of Russia
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...
. Princess Alix missed the rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
garden of Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, and so this egg reminded her of them during her first Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
with her new husband. The familiar yellow rose in 1895 was the yellow China tea rose that had been introduced by Parkes from China in 1824, re-bloomed in fall and was a staple of milder gardens than Saint Petersburg, where it was not hardy. Yellow roses were the most valued ones in the Empress' native Germany.
The egg embodied Fabergé's embrace of Neo-Classicism, in opposition to the dominance of Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
in late 19th century contemporary design. Fabergé charged 3,250 rubles for the egg.
In 1917 the egg was confiscated by the Russian Provisional Government
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
and later sold to Emanuel Snowman of the jewellers Wartski
Wartski
Wartski is a family-owned firm of antique dealers specialising in Russian works of art; particularly those by Carl Fabergé, fine jewellery and silver. Founded in North Wales in 1865 the business is now located at 14 Grafton Street in Mayfair, London. The company holds royal appointments as...
around 1927. It was owned by a certain Charles Parsons in the 1930s, and was lost for decades, amid rumours that it had been damaged in a marital dispute. It was this damage that helped Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father B. C. Forbes and today run by his son Steve Forbes.-Life and career:...
identify the egg when he purchased it in 1985 from the Fine Art Society
Fine Art Society
The Fine Art Society is an art dealership with two premises, one in New Bond Street, London and the other in Edinburgh . It was formed in 1876...
in London. In 2004 it was sold as part of the Forbes Collection to Viktor Vekselberg
Viktor Vekselberg
Viktor Felixovich Vekselberg is the owner and president of Renova Group, a large Russian conglomerate.-Business empire:Victor Vekselberg was born in 1957 in Western Ukraine. He graduated from the Moscow Transportation Engineering Institute in 1979...
. Vekselberg purchased some nine Imperial eggs from the collection, for almost $100 million.