Trans-Siberian Railway Egg

A Fabergé egg is part of a collection of limited, jeweled eggs made by Peter Carl Fabergé and his business between 1885 and 1917. The Imperials were asked to design an Easter egg for the Russian royal family in 1885. They were so pleased with the outcome that they continued to order eggs every year.

Fabergé made one egg annually for Tsar Alexander; and then, two eggs were produced annually once Nicholas II was crowned. A group of expert craftsmen worked in the strictest secrecy for an entire year to create each egg. Furthermore, the only condition was that there should be a surprise in each creation, and Fabergé was given maximum creative freedom.

Origins of the Real Fabergé Eggs

The 1900 Trans-Siberian Railway egg’s exterior is covered in a colored glossy enamel and is made of onyx, silver, gold, and quartz. Additionally, the egg’s lid is hinged, covered with a layer of green enamel, and accented with engraved acanthus leaves.

An imperial three-headed eagle in gold with the Imperial Crown is engraved on top of the lid. Velvet is also used to line the interior.

Additionally, the Trans-Siberian Railway’s path is engraved over the face of the egg in silver. With the important stops marked by precious stones forming a belt around the egg.

Who Created the Trans-Siberian Railway Egg?

The Trans-Siberian Railway egg is a jeweled Easter egg created in 1900 for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia under the supervision of the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé. Nicolas II gave the Fabergé egg to his wife, Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna, as an Easter gift. It is currently on display in Moscow’s Kremlin Armoury Museum.

History

The railway that would connect Europe to Russia with the Pacific coast was almost finished in 1900. An achievement that gave Nicholas a great deal of delight and the support of his nation. To commemorate the occasion, Fabergé came up with a brilliant gift idea, the Trans-Siberian Railway egg.

When Nicholas II, the Tsarevich, arrived at Vladivostok on the last part of his foreign tour in 1890–1891. He lay the groundwork for the building of the Siberian Railway. To broaden their horizons, Tsar Alexander III sent his two eldest sons on a journey to the Far East.

Many lives and millions of Rubles were lost during the construction of the railway. The construction took nine years, and it continued for some time after the egg was displayed. Thus the incomplete section is marked on the route map of the egg.

Impact on the Fabergé Field

Fabergé’s creations mirrored the shift in mindset toward wartime economy and heightened patriotism when Russia and the Romanovs went to war in 1914.

Furthermore, the Dowager Empress’s daughter, her two grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law, and her niece were all serving as active nurses when Maria Fyodorovna, president of the Russian Red Cross, received the silver and enamel Imperial Red Cross Egg in 1915.

When the ruling Romanov family was removed from their power and later killed. Fabergé continued to make the Easter egg gifts until the October Revolution of 1917. The communists who gained control confiscated most of the real Fabergé eggs along with other priceless items. Essentially, the royal family’s final two Fabergé Easter eggs were never delivered or paid for.

From 1882 until 1917, the company produced around 150,000 pieces. The House of Fabergé became a joint stock company and went public in 1916. The year before the revolution, raising 3 million rubles. After the revolution, a group of the company’s employees bought the firm.

In 1918, Peter Carl Fabergé made the decision to leave Russia and flee to Switzerland. His relatives later said that he was never able to bounce back from the sudden failure. He passed away on September 24, 1920, and is buried in Cannes with his wife.

Where Can You Find the Trans-Siberian Railway Egg Today?

The Trans-Siberian Railway Egg, one of the 10 eggs that were never sold. Was moved to the Kremlin Armoury Museum in Moscow in 1927. You can see the Fabergé egg at the Moscow exhibition along with other priceless artifacts from Russia

Visit the Authentic Fabergé Egg

Now, that you’re aware of the history and design of the Fabergé egg, why not go and see the original Fabergé egg for yourself?