The Coronation Egg. The egg is enameled a deep gold hue over guilloché sunburst patterns and blanketed by a gold trellis marked by diamond-set Imperial eagles at the intersections. At the top of the egg is the crowned monogram of Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna emblazoned in rose-cut diamonds and rubies. The date 1897, appears beneath a smaller portrait diamond at the bottom of the egg. When the egg is opened, the surprise fitted inside a velvet-lined compartment is a removable replica of a coach of gold, enamel, diamond and rock crystal - initials of workmaster Michael Perchin, assay mark of St. Petersburg 1899-1908 (CHK), 56 (zolotnik), the name Wigström is roughly scratched on the inner surface of the shell, length of shell 5 inches (12.7 cm), length of coach 3 11/16 inches (9.4 cm).
Provenance: Presented by Tsar Nicholas II to his wife, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, Easter 1897; purchased by Emanuel Snowman for Wartski, London, 1927.

The FORBES Magazine Collection, New York.
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