The Cross of St. George Egg. The mat opalescent white enamel egg is under painted with a green enamel garlanded trellis which frames St. George crosses in white and red enamel. A ribbon in the Order's colors of black and orange, encircles two medals; one mounted with the Order of the Cross of St. George (verso) and the second of silver chased with the portrait of Czar Nicholas II in profile (recto). The badges lift to reveal painted miniatures of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarevitch Alexis respectively. The silver crowned monogram of the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna surmounts the egg; the date of presentation in silver is set directly below - signed Fabergé, height 3 5/16 inches (8.4 cm)
Provenance: Presented by Tsar Nicholas II to the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna on Easter 1916; Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, her daughter; Prince Vassily Romanov, her son; Sotheby's, London, November

The FORBES Magazine Collection, New York.
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