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This Sunday, many of us will settle for store-bought dyes and stickers to decorate Easter eggs, but for some, Easter decor includes extravagant pieces adorned with rubies and diamonds. The story of Faberge Eggs began in 1885 when Tsar Alexander III gifted his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna, a small Easter present. She was so enchanted by the first egg that it sparked a new tradition. Their son, Nicholas, continued this legacy after his marriage. While these eggs are now priceless masterpieces covered in jewels, the most intriguing aspect is the hidden surprises inside. It’s like discovering a prize in a cereal box—except this box is made of precious metals and gems. Here’s a look at what you’d find inside 10 iconic Faberge Eggs.
1. The Hen Egg was the very first egg gifted to Empress Maria, marking the beginning of the Faberge legacy. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple white enamel egg, but it held a golden yolk inside. Within the yolk was a small golden hen, and inside the hen were two precious treasures: a miniature diamond crown and a ruby egg pendant. Sadly, while the Hen Egg still exists, the tiny gifts inside the hen have been lost over time.
2. The Diamond Trellis Egg is a masterpiece even before opening. Crafted from pale green jadeite and adorned with a diamond trellis, it concealed a tiny ivory and gold elephant decorated with rose-cut and brilliant diamonds. The elephant was more than just a figurine—it was a wind-up toy that could walk when wound with a key. Unfortunately, like many of these intricate surprises, the elephant has been lost to history.
3. Rosebud was the first egg Nicholas II gifted to his wife after ascending the throne in 1894. Alexandra Fyodorovna, deeply missing her homeland, particularly the rose garden at Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt, was presented with an egg that opened to reveal a yellow-enamel rosebud resembling the flowers she longed for. Inside the rosebud were a ruby pendant and a small golden crown adorned with diamonds and rubies, symbolizing her new role as Empress of Russia. Sadly, both the pendant and crown have been lost over time.
4. The Lilies of the Valley Egg introduced a new level of creativity in Faberge's surprises. Instead of a simple hidden treasure, this egg featured a pearl button that, when twisted, caused three miniature portraits to emerge: Nicholas II and their two eldest daughters, Olga and Tatiana. This clever design allowed Alexandra to admire her beloved family at any moment.
5. The Trans-Siberian Railway Egg is a marvel of craftsmanship, made from onyx, silver, gold, and quartz. Inside the egg lies a detailed clockwork replica of a gold and platinum train, complete with five cars and a winding key. Unlike many Faberge surprises, this egg and its intricate train are still intact and on display at the Kremlin Armoury Museum in Moscow.
6. The Bay Tree Egg, standing just under a foot tall, is a masterpiece of opulence. Adorned with diamonds, citrines, amethysts, rubies, agate, pearls, gold, enamel, and even feathers, it was gifted to Tsar Nicholas's widowed mother in 1911. Hidden among the tree-shaped leaves is a small gold mechanism that, when turned, causes the top of the egg to rise and reveal a feathered nightingale. The bird would sing, flap its wings, and move its beak before retreating back into the egg.
7. The Peter the Great Egg, housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Virginia, is a stunning piece crafted from red, yellow, and green gold, platinum, rose-cut diamonds, rubies, enamel, and crystal. The exterior features four miniature watercolors, while the interior reveals a golden model of Peter the Great's monument on the Neva, which rises from a sapphire base when the egg is opened.
10. The Rock Crystal Egg is a masterpiece of intricate design. Atop the egg sits a stunning 27-carat Siberian emerald, but the real treasure lies inside. A golden frame holds not one, two, or even three, but 12 miniature paintings of palaces and buildings that held deep significance for Empress Alexandra. These included her birthplace, the Winter Palace where she married Nicholas, and their favorite retreats. A deeply sentimental piece, the egg was kept in her study at the Winter Palace and is now displayed at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
If your Easter basket is filled with store-bought dyed eggs and a box of pastel Whopper eggs, don’t fret—you’re not alone. At the Conradt household, there won’t be any rubies or tiny hidden portraits. Whether your weekend includes precious gems or marshmallow Peeps, I hope it’s a delightful one!
