Designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino in which the Russian Armies defeated Napoleon in the War of 1812, this Egg was given by Tsar Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna for Easter 1912.

Decorated in the Empire style which was the prevalent styling through much of Napoleon's reign in France, the contrast between this egg and the Romanov Double Eagle and other Russian Military Insignia as the central motif of the Egg, makes a strong statement. The brilliance of the translucent green enamel over the wave guilloché design is in striking contrast to the blood red that is used to delineate the design segments. Every segment, including the medallions, is rimmed with Austrian crystals, 865 handset crystals in total. The effect is glittering perfection! The Egg is crowned by a sunburst of gold around a large table cut crystal which in the original Egg covers the Empress' cipher.

The surprise is an exquisite 6 octagonal panel screen with miniatures of the key officers in each of the 6 regiments for which the Empress was an honorary colonel. The original miniatures were painted on ivory by Vasilii Zuiev. The reverse side of the screen is as striking as the Egg itself. A gold sunburst ground with an Austrian crystal cipher centered on it, edged by a narrow green enamel border which, in turn, is bordered in gold. The Egg stands on a tripod base with stretcher bars.

Retail: $3500.00. Our price: $3149.90.

The Egg comes in a handsome velvet case along with appropriate documentation.