Danish Palaces (Fabergé egg)
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The Danish Palaces egg is a jewelled enameled Easter egg made by Michael Perchin under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé in 1890.[1] The egg was made for Alexander III of Russia, who presented it to his wife, the Empress Maria Feodorovna. [1]
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[edit] Surprise
The egg contains a ten-panel screen depicting Imperial palaces and residences in Russia and Empress Maria Feodorovna's native Denmark. [1]
The panels were painted by court miniaturist Konstatin Krijitski and are signed '1889'. [1]
From left to right, the panels depict the Imperial yacht "Polar Star"; Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen; the Estate of Hvidore near Copenhagen; the Summer Residence of Fredensborg Castle; Bernstorff Palace, Copenhagen; Kronborg Castle, Elsinore; two views of the Cottage Palace; Alexandria Park, Peterhof; Gatchina Palace, near St. Petersburg and the Imperial Yacht "Tsarevna". [1]
[edit] History
The egg references the Danish background of the Empress Maria, and was one of ten eggs sold to Armand Hammer in 1930. Owned by Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Ludwig from 1937-1953, it was sold to a private collector and acquired by the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation, currently on display at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art. [1]
