Fabergé eggs are some of the most exquisite and expensive eggs in the world. In this article, we will take a look at the most expensive Fabergé eggs ever made. We’ll also explore why they are so popular and what makes them so special.
What Are Fabergé Eggs?
Faberge eggs were produced by Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, mainly as Easter gifts for the Russian aristocracy from 1885 to 1917, during the reign of Tsar Alexander III and Nicholas II. They’re beautiful, they’re expensive and no two eggs are the same.
How Many Fabergé Eggs Are There?
There were between 50-54 Fabergé eggs created between 1885 and 1916, one for each year he was commissioned as court jeweler to the Tzar. Of these, at least 7 are unaccounted for today.
In addition to these jewelled eggs, Fabergé made many other beautiful decorative items such as boxes and portrait frames. However, Fabergé eggs are by far his most famous creations.
What Are the Missing Fabergé Eggs?
The lost Fabergé eggs date from the following years: 1886, 1888, 1889, 1897, 1902, 1903 and 1909.
Why Are Fabergé Eggs So Expensive?
Fabergé eggs are some of the most expensive eggs in the world. There are several reasons why Fabergé eggs are so costly.
First, they are made of precious metals and gemstones. Second, they are rare and highly collectible items. And third, they have a rich history and are associated with luxury and wealth.
Fabergé eggs are some of the most exquisite and beautiful objects in the world. Each Fabergé egg was unique and made with the utmost precision and attention to detail.
Most Expensive Fabergé Eggs in the World
Let’s take a look at some of the most luxurious eggs ever created by Fabergé. These intricately crafted pieces are highly sought after by collectors and can sell for millions of dollars. The Fabergé egg price varies significantly depending on the condition of the piece in question.
How Much is a Fabergé Egg Worth?
All Fabergé eggs are priceless, and they change hands very rarely. It is hard to estimate their current worth, as most are owned by museums or private collectors.
However, most Fabergé eggs are valued at several million dollars in today’s money. Some Fabergé eggs have estimates of their worth at over $10 million.
23. Imperial Red Cross Easter Egg
The Imperial Red Cross Easter Egg is normally housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Also known as the Red Cross with Triptych Egg, it is made from gold, silver, gilt, glass, ivory and enamel and dates from 1915.
The value of this Fabergé Easter egg is unknown, but thought to be much less than other Fabergé Imperial eggs, due to the simplicity of its design. It was originally purchased for 3,600 roubles.
22. Diamond Trellis Egg
Originally costing 4,750 silver roubles, the Diamond Trellis Egg was created in 1892 for Alexander III of Russia as a gift for his wife, Empress Maria. Usually on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, it is made of gold, the rare mineral jadeite, and rose-cut diamonds.
The surprise was thought to be lost but was recently found in the Royal Family’s collection. This is an ivory automaton elephant adorned with gold and precious stones. Finding the surprise has increased the estimated value of this Fabergé egg to several million dollars.
21. Alexander Palace Egg
Crafted by Chief Workmaster Henrik Wigström in 1908, the Alexander Palace Egg is decorated with watercolour portraits of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra’s children. Made from Siberian nephrite, gold, diamonds and rubies, it contains a surprise model of the Alexander palace and gardens.
The palace was the favorite residence of the Russian Imperial family in Tsarskoye Selo. This gorgeous Easter egg is usually on display at the Kremlin Armoury.
Purchased for 12,300 roubles, it is thought to be worth several million dollars nowadays.
20. The Mosaic Egg
The Mosaic Egg was designed by Alma Pihl and produced by Workmaster Albert Holmström in 1914, this stunning egg was another gift for Empress Alexandra from Nicholas II of Russia.
Inspired by needlework fire screens, this elegant egg is made of yellow gold, platinum, rose-cut and brilliant diamonds, emeralds, rubies, garnets, sapphires, topaz, half-pearls, moonstones and enamel. The surprise hidden inside is a small frame with profiles of the couple’s five children.
Although the exact price of this Fabergé egg is not known, it would be likely to command several million dollars at auction. The Mosaic Egg is owned by the Royal Collection Trust in London.
19. The Yusupov Clock Egg
Crafted by Fabergé Chief Workmaster Henrik Wigström in 1907, the Yusopov Clock Egg is part of a private collection. Made from gold, silver, gilt, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, white onyx and enamel, it was a gift from Prince Felix Yusupov to his wife, Princess Zinaida.
This 25th wedding anniversary gift originally contained the portraits of Felix and their two sons. The youngest son, also called Felix was one of the co-conspirators who killed Grigory Rasputin in 1916.
18. Gatchina Palace Egg
Purchased for 5,000 roubles, Tsar Nicholas II gave this egg to his mother, dowager empress Marie Fedorovna in Easter 1901. The hidden surprise inside the egg is a gold replica of Gatchina Palace, her Winter residence.
Details include a flag, trees, cannons and a statue of Paul I. This egg features several layers of translucent enamel applied onto mechanically engraved gold.
You can view this beautiful Fabergé egg at The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, MD.
17. Romanov Tercentary Egg
Made by Chief Workmaster Henrik Wigström in 1913, The Romanov Tercentary Egg celebrated 300 years of the Romanov dynasty. The materials used include gold, silver, diamonds, enamel and rock crystal.
18 rulers are represented on the egg’s exterior, while inside the surprise is a revolving globe made from enamel, varicolored gold and steel. This distinctive egg is normally on display at the Kremlin Armoury Museum in Moscow.
Purchased for 21,300 roubles, this exquisite Fabergé egg is worth millions in today’s money.
16. The Blue Serpent Clock Egg
The Blue Serpent Clock Egg was made in 1895 by an unknown craftsperson under the supervision of Fabergé. It is pictured here with the Basket of Flowers Egg.
Made in 1901 from gold, enamel, onyx, pearls and diamonds, the Basket of Flowers Egg was a gift from Emperor Nicholas II to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.
15. The Colonnade Egg
The Colonnade Egg is another important Fabergé egg, crafted by Chief Workmaster Henrik Wigström in 1910, the Colonnade Egg is one of the three Fabergé eggs owned by the King of England. It was given by Emperor Nicholas II to his wife Empress Alexandra for Easter.
Inspired by the temple built for Marie Antoinette of France in the Palace of Versailles, this egg has a rotating clock face. The four gold cherubs at the clock’s base represent the Emperor’s daughters, the cherub on top symbolizes his son and the two doves represent the Emperor and his wife.
Made with bowenite, gold, silver, gilt, platinum, enamel and diamonds, it’s a beautiful piece. Part of the Royal Collection of the British Royal Family, its value is estimated at several million dollars.
14. Peacock Egg
Made by Dorofeiev under the supervision of Fabergé in 1908, the Peacock Egg is rarely on public display. We were fortunate to see it at an exhibition at the V&A Museum in London.
This stunning egg contains an enamelled gold peacock automaton surprise. It is owned by the Foundation Edouard et Maurice Sandoz in Switzerland.
13. Tsarevich Egg
The Tsarevich Fabergé Egg, crafted in 1912, is a true masterpiece. This stunning work of art can be admired at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
Its intricate details of lapis lazuli and magnificent diamonds reveal the utmost precision and attention to detail that the House of Fabergé was renowned for. The egg was created by Fabergé for Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna in tribute to her son, the Tsarevich Alexei.
The surprise inside this intricate egg is a diamond-encrusted double-headed eagle and a portrait of the Tsarevich Alexei. Its immaculate design and luxurious materials make this Fabergé egg a true treasure, worth millions of dollars.
12. The Cradle with Garlands Egg
Made by Chief Workmaster Henrik Wigström in 1907, this ornate egg was sold to a private collector for $3.19 million dollars at Sotheby’s in 1992. It is thought to be worth around $6 million dollars today.
Also known as the Love Trophies Egg, it was commissioned by Czar Nicholas II for his wife Alexandra upon the birth of their son Alexei. The surprise hidden inside was a miniature of the Imperial children, however it’s now missing.
Designed by Henrik Wigström, this intricate egg is coated with pale blue enamel and encrusted with pearls. It is part of a private collection and is currently on loan to the V&A Museum in London.
11. The Rosebud Egg
Made by Michael Perchin under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé, the Rosebud Egg was gifted by Csar Nicholas II to his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in 1895. This was the first Fabergé egg that he gifted to her.
This stylish egg is coated in red enamel and features four bands of diamonds. Inside the egg, the surprise is a yellow enamel tea rose. Inside the rose itself, there were two further surprises: a gold crown with diamonds and rubies, and a ruby pendant, however these are both now missing.
Nevertheless, The Rosebud Egg could be worth up to $4 million dollars. Owned by Viktor Vekselberg, this egg is on display at the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
10. The Hen Egg
Made by an unknown work-master, The Hen Egg was created in 1885. Also known as The First Hen egg or Jeweled Hen egg, it was a gift from Emperor Alexander III to his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.
This was the first Fabergé egg and the Emperor was so happy with it, that he subsequently commissioned a new egg each year for Easter. Fabergé took inspiration from an 18th century prototype for his design, with a golden yolk and precious ruby eyes for the hen hidden inside.
Originally, the hen itself had a replica of the Imperial crown nestled inside, but this is now missing. The Hen Egg is normally on display at The Link of Times Foundation at the Fabergé Museum in St Petersburg. The value of the golden Hen Egg is estimated at $6 million dollars.
9. Order of St George Egg
Also known as the Cross of St. George Egg, this masterpiece was made in 1916 for Nicholas II of Russia. It was presented as a gift to his Mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. This stunning Fabergé egg commemorates the Order of St. George given to Emperor Nicholas and his son, Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaievich.
Inside this egg, there are miniature watercolour portraits of Nicholas II and his son. Part of the Forbes Collection bought by Viktor Vekselberg, the egg is housed at the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The Order of St George Egg is worth as much as $7 million dollars.
8. The Moscow Kremlin Egg
The Moscow Kremlin Egg was made by an unknown craftsmith in 1906. The largest Imperial Fabergé egg, it represents Moscow’s Uspenski Cathedral. Due to its size, this unique Fabergé egg is thought to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
Made from gold, onyx, enamel and glass, it features a removable cathedral dome which reveals an intricate church interior. This egg’s surprise is a gold music box at the base. It is on display at the Kremlin Armoury Museum in Moscow.
7. The Fifteenth Anniversary Egg
Estimated at between $12-15 million, the Fifteenth Anniversay Egg was a gift from Tsar Nicholas II for his wife, Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna in 1911. It commemorates the fifteenth anniversary of Nicholas’ coronation.
Made from gold, white and green enamel, it is studded with rock crystal and diamonds. Unusually, there is no surprise within the egg and it is thought that none was produced.
6. The Lilies of the Valley Egg
One of two Fabergé eggs in the Art Nouveau style, the Lilies of the Valley egg was made in 1898. Another gift from Nicholas II to his wife, it is now part of the Viktor Vekselberg collection and on display at the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
This Easter gift is decorated with pearls and coated in rose pink enamel. Cabriole legs support the egg, while the flowers are adorned with diamonds, rubies and pearls.
The surprise is revealed by turning a pearl button, which raises three portraits of Tsar Nicholas II and his eldest daughters, Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Tatiana. These paintings on ivory by Johannes Zehngraf are framed by rose diamonds. This particular egg could be worth as much as $13 million dollars.
5. The Bay Tree Egg
Often described erroneously as the Orange Tree egg, this masterpiece was confirmed to be a bay tree when the original invoice from Fabergé was examined.
This nephrite and enamel egg contains a surprise songbird which is activated by a miniature lever disguised as a fruit. Designed for Nicholas II of Russia as a gift to his mother in 1911, the original cost was 12,800 rubles. It is now thought to be worth approximately $15 million dollars.
Bought by Viktor Vekselberg, the Bay Tree Egg is on display at the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
4. The Winter Egg
The Winter Fabergé egg is thought to be in the collection of the Emir of Qatar. It was purchased at a Christie’s auction in New York City by an unknown buyer in 2002. This Fabergé egg price was $9.6 million and it is now thought to be worth around $15.6 million.
This Fabergé egg was created by Peter Carl Fabergé in 1913 as an Easter 1913 gift for the Czarina Maria Feodorovna from Czar Nicholas II.
The egg’s exterior is designed to look like crystals forming on glass. It is encrusted with 1,660 diamonds and made from platinum, orthoclase and quartz.
Inside, a surprise flower basket of gold and platinum is decorated with 1,378 diamonds. The wood anemones are made from white quartz and their leaves are made from demantoid, a rare gemstone.
3. The Imperial Coronation Egg
Made in 1897 by Mikhail Perkhin and Henrik Wigstrom under the supervision of Fabergé, this egg was designed to commemorate the coronation of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.
The value of this egg is estimated at $18 million dollars. Inspired by the cloth-of-gold robe that she wore at her coronation, it is made from gold and yellow enamel and encrusted with brilliant diamonds.
Inside the velvet lined egg is an exact replica of the Imperial coronation coach topped with a miniature Imperial Crown and six eagles. The replica has opening doors, moving wheels, a folding step stair and shock absorbers. This precious egg also originally contained a gemstone pendant and two display stands.
2. The Rothschild Clock Egg
The next pricey egg on our list is the Rothschild Faberge Egg. This egg was designed byPeter Carl Fabergé in 1902. It was made by Chief Workmaster Michael Perchin and Clockmaker Nikolay Rode.
A gift from Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild to Germaine Halphen on her engagement to Baron Edouard de Rothschild, it’s one of the rare Fabergé eggs that wasn’t made for the Russian Imperial family.
This egg is made of gold, silver, enamel, diamonds, and pearls. Every hour, a diamond encrusted cockerel emerges from the egg, nodding and crowing.
Sold by Christie’s auction house for £8.9 million on 28 November 2007, it set several records: for the most expensive timepiece, Russian object and Fabergé egg ever sold at auction. Today, the Rothschild egg is estimated to be worth over $16 million and possibly as much as $25 million dollars.
The Rothschild egg was presented to the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg by Vladimir Putin in 2014.
1. The Third Imperial Egg
Possibly the most valuable Fabergé egg in the world is the recently rediscovered Third Imperial Easter Egg. Estimated to be worth approximately $33 million dollars, this is the most expensive Fabergé egg price ever.
Produced by Workmaster August Holmström in 1887, it was a gift from the Russian Tsar Alexander III to his wife Maria Feodorovna. Designed in the Louis XVI style, the most expensive Fabergé egg features an 18K gold case decorated with sapphires and diamonds.
An impressive surprise was hiding inside, a 14K gold Vacheron Constantin lady’s luxury watch, with diamond set gold hands. This unique Fabergé egg was found by a scrap dealer in 2011, who at first didn’t realize the value of his purchase.
The egg lay for many years in his kitchen until he researched it and realized it could be a missing Fabergé egg! There are several scratches on the egg, where potential buyers checked its gold content, which just add to the history of the piece.
What is a Replica Fabergé Egg?
A replica Fabergé egg, or a fake Fabergé egg, is a copy of an original. This could mean a reproduction of one of the originals from a similar timeline, but it usually refers to a modern day imitation.
Fabergé style eggs are typically made in Asia. Some of them, like this clock egg inspired by Faberge are quite ornate.
Where to See Authentic Fabergé Eggs
A sizeable portion of the Fabergé eggs are in Russia, with 10 famous eggs at the Kremlin Armory and nine at the Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has the largest Fabergé collection in the United States. In addition to having five Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs, the VMFA has many other objects attributed to Fabergé, all collected and donated by Lillian Thomas Pratt.
Visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York can admire three Fabergé eggs which are on long term loan from the collection of philanthropist Matilda Geddings Gray. These are the Imperial Caucasus Egg, the Imperial Danish Palaces Egg and the Imperial Napoleonic Egg.
There are two Imperial eggs at The Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington, D.C. – the Catherine the Great Egg and the Twelve Monograms Egg. Walters Art Museum in Baltimore also boasts two imperial eggs: the Gatchina Palace Egg and the Rose Trellis Egg.
The Cleveland Museum of Art houses one Imperial egg: the Red Cross Triptych Egg, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science has the Nobel Ice Egg on loan from its owners.
The United Kingdom is also fortunate to have several Fabergé eggs on display. The Royal Collection Trust in London boasts 3 Imperial eggs: The Colonnade Egg Clock, the Basket of Flowers Egg and the Mosaic Egg. You can purchase a ticket to the Queen’s Gallery on Buckingham Palace Road to see these eggs.
The Fabergé Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany houses the Imperial Constellation Easter Egg, while the Liechtensteinisches Landes Museum owns the Apple Blossom Egg. And finally, several other Fabergé eggs are owned by private collectors.
In Conclusion: Most Expensive Fabergé Eggs
Fabergé eggs are some of the most exquisite and expensive eggs in the world. If you’re ever able to see one in person, it is a sight to behold.
The museums that have them on display are worth checking out if you want to see these amazing works of art. And if you can’t make it to any of those museums, don’t worry – there are plenty of replica Fabergé eggs for sale online. So go ahead and treat yourself (or someone else) to this incredible piece of history.
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