Six Imperial Fabergé eggs were lost to history. This project is dedicated to their return.
A cultural heritage initiative by Heredis Atelier GmbH,
Zug Switzerland
Zug Switzerland
Between 1885 and 1916, Carl Fabergé and his workshops created fifty-two Imperial Easter eggs for the Russian court — among the most technically and artistically complex objects ever produced in the history of jewellery. Each egg was a miniature world: goldsmithing, translucent enamel, precision mechanics, and concealed surprises that no photograph has ever fully captured. After the revolution of 1917, the collection was dispersed across Europe and the Americas. Six eggs remain lost to this day, known only through archival descriptions and the accounts of those who once held them.
The Fabergé Heritage Project is a long-term initiative to produce museum-grade digital reconstructions of the Imperial collection — beginning with the surviving eggs and extending to the six that have never been seen again. Every reconstruction begins in the archive: period inventories, workshop photographs, scholarly publications, and technical analysis of surviving comparable objects. The digital model records not the external appearance, but the structure, proportions, materials, and logic of fabrication. This is not interpretation. It is restoration of what the historical record allows us to know.
Methodology
DOCUMENTED PROVENANCE
MATERIAL ACCURACY
ARCHIVE FIRST
three short principles
Each reconstruction is produced and registered as a singular research object with full scholarly documentation. The reconstruction process itself becomes part of the historical record.
Guilloché patterns, enamel opacity, stone faceting, and metalwork construction are modelled from period-accurate references. Precision is not a stylistic choice. It is a form of respect for the original makers
Every reconstruction begins with primary sources: auction records, museum catalogues, period photographs, workshop drawings, and scholarly accounts. The 3D model is the last step — and because of everything that precedes it, the most faithful one.
Imperial Registry
full table — 52 Eggs
name
recipient
current location
status
Nicolas II series 1895 —1916 Gifted to empress maria feodorovna & empress Alexandra feodorovna
alexander III series 1885—1894 gifted to empress maria feodorovna
surprise
Not presented*
Possible mechanical elephant of silver and gold; attribution to this egg remains uncertain.
Fabergé Museum, Baden-Baden, Germany (attributed object)
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Karelian Birch Egg
1917
Extant
No separate surprise documented; rotating clock dial indicated by a serpent.
Collection of Prince Albert II of Monaco
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Blue Serpent Clock Egg
1895
Extant
Twelve revolving miniature views of palaces and residences connected with the empress.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, USA
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Egg with Revolving Miniatures
1896
Extant
Heart-shaped easel with eleven miniature portraits of members of the imperial family.
Stream family private collection, USA
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Pansy Egg
1899
Extant
No separate surprise documented; enamelled flowers form the principal composition.
Royal Collection Trust, UK
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Basket of Flowers Egg
1901
Extant*
Portrait miniature of Grand Duchess Olga and Duke Peter of Oldenburg; original lost, later replacement.
Private collection (reported, USA); attribution debated
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Empire Nephrite Egg
1902
Lost
Double-sided portrait medallions of King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark.
Lost — whereabouts unknown
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Royal Danish Egg (Danish Jubilee)
1903
Extant
Miniature model of the imperial yacht Standart.
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Standart Yacht Egg
1909
Extant
No separate surprise; commemorative miniature portraits and scenes are on the shell.
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Fifteenth Anniversary Egg
1911
Unfinished
Clock with rotating dial was planned; mechanism and complete setting do not survive.
Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow (surviving fragments)
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Blue Tsarevich Constellation Egg
1917
Extant
Concealed portrait miniatures of Nicholas II and Tsarevich Alexei.
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Order of St George Egg
1916
Extant
Miniature easel painting of Nicholas II and Alexei visiting troops at the front.
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Steel Military Egg
1916
Extant
Folding screen with five miniature portraits of imperial women in nursing uniforms.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, USA
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Red Cross Egg with Portraits
1915
Extant
Triptych of Orthodox icons, with the Resurrection in the centre.
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, USA
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Red Cross Egg with Resurrection Triptych
1915
Extant
Lost miniature mechanical sedan chair carrying Catherine the Great.
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Washington, DC, USA
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Catherine the Great Egg (Grisaille)
1914
Extant
Miniature cameo of the five imperial children on a gold pedestal, with floral basket.
Royal Collection Trust, UK
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Mosaic Egg
1914
Extant
Revolving globe contrasting the Russian Empire in 1613 and 1913.
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Romanov Tercentenary Egg
1913
Extant
Platinum basket of white-quartz wood anemones on gold moss.
Private collection (buyer undisclosed; sold December 2025)
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Winter Egg
1913
Extant
Folding six-panel screen depicting regiments of which Maria Feodorovna was honorary colonel.
The Met, New York, USA (Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation loan)
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Napoleonic Egg
1912
Extant
Mechanically animated feathered songbird rises from the foliage and sings.
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Bay Tree Egg (Orange Tree)
1911
Extant
Diamond-set double-headed eagle supporting a miniature portrait of Tsarevich Alexei.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, USA
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Tsarevich Egg
1912
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Miniature equestrian statue of Alexander III.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Alexander III Equestrian Egg
1910
Lost
Lost — whereabouts unknown
Miniature gold bust of Alexander III on a pedestal (known from archival records).
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Alexander III Commemorative Egg
1909
Extant
Private collection (owner undisclosed)
Missing miniature easel with portraits of the imperial children.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Love Trophies Egg (Cradle with Garlands)
1907
Extant
Mechanical peacock automaton, set upon a gold tree.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Peacock Egg
1908
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Miniature model of the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Alexander Palace Egg
1908
Extant
The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA
Missing diamond necklace with a miniature portrait of Tsarevich Alexei.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Rose Trellis Egg
1907
Extant
Private collection (owner undisclosed)
Miniature Vacheron Constantin lady’s watch.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Third Imperial Egg
1887
Lost
Lost — whereabouts unknown
Possibly a clock within the gold egg; interpretation of two invoice entries remains uncertain.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Cherub with Chariot Egg
1888
Lost
Lost — whereabouts unknown
Gold hen holding a sapphire egg in its beak; no separate surprise securely documented.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Hen Egg with Sapphire Pendant
1886
Extant
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Clockwork bird emerges, flaps its wings, opens its beak and sings.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Cockerel Egg (Cuckoo Clock)
1900
Extant
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, USA
Folding screen of miniature paintings showing institutions supported by Maria Feodorovna.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Pelican Egg
1898
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Missing ruby pendant shown in an archival photograph; clock is part of the egg.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Madonna Lily Clock Egg (Bouquet of Lilies)
1899
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Missing four-leaf-clover miniature frame, probably with portraits of the imperial children.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Clover Leaf Egg
1902
Extant
Royal Collection Trust, UK
No separate surprise; a rotating clock dial encircles the egg, surmounted by Cupid.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Colonnade Egg
1910
Extant
Fondation Édouard et Maurice Sandoz, Switzerland
Fondation Édouard et Maurice Sandoz, Switzerland
Mechanical gold-and-silver swan that moves its neck and wings.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Swan Egg
1906
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Musical mechanism inside the cathedral model, playing Orthodox hymns.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Moscow Kremlin Egg
1906
Extant
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, USA
Miniature of Falconet’s equestrian monument to Peter the Great (Bronze Horseman).
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Peter the Great Egg
1903
Extant
The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA
Miniature gold model of Gatchina Palace.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Gatchina Palace Egg
1901
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Wind-up gold and platinum miniature model of the Trans-Siberian train.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Trans-Siberian Railway Egg
1900
Extant
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Three rising portrait miniatures: Nicholas II and daughters Olga and Tatiana.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Lilies of the Valley Egg
1898
Lost
Egg lost; heart surprise at Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg
Surviving heart-shaped frame unfolds to reveal Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Olga.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Mauve Egg with Three Miniatures
1897
Extant
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Working miniature of the imperial coronation coach; an additional emerald pendant is missing.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Coronation Egg
1897
Extant
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Washington, DC, USA
Folding frame for six miniature portraits of Alexander III in uniform; portraits missing.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Alexander III Portraits Egg (Twelve Monograms)
1896
Extant
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Yellow enamel rosebud; miniature imperial crown and ruby pendant (both missing).
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Rosebud Egg
1895
Extant
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Original surprise missing; identification with the Resurrection Egg is a hypothesis, not established.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Renaissance Egg
1894
Extant
The Met, New York, USA (Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation loan)
Four miniature views of Grand Duke George’s residence at Abastumani, revealed behind doors.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Caucasus Egg
1893
Extant
McFerrin Collection, Houston, USA
Wind-up ivory elephant automaton; surprise held separately by the Royal Collection Trust, UK.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Diamond Trellis Egg
1892
Extant
Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia
Miniature gold and platinum model of the cruiser Pamiat Azova.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Memory of Azov Egg
1891
Extant
The Met, New York, USA (Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation loan)
Folding ten-panel gold screen with Danish and Russian palaces and imperial yachts.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Danish Palaces Egg
1890
Lost
Lost — whereabouts unknown
A fitted set of thirteen miniature diamond-set gold toilet implements.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
Nécessaire Egg
1889
Extant
Fabergé Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Gold yolk enclosing a gold hen; the miniature imperial crown and ruby egg pendant are missing.
Empress Maria Feodorovna
First Hen Egg
1885
year
Digital Reconstruction Progress
Year of original:
Maker:
comissioned by:
current location:
material:
surprise:
Maker:
comissioned by:
current location:
material:
surprise:
1912
Carl Fabergé, St.Petersburg
Diamond-set double-headed eagle with miniature portrait of Tsarevich Alexei
Gold, lapis lazuli, diamonds, platinum, rock crystal
Nicholas II for Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond
The Tsarevich Egg was presented by Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna at Easter 1912 — the year of Alexei’s eighth birthday. Encased in lapis lazuli with gold ornamental relief, it opens to reveal the surprise: a diamond-set double-headed eagle of the Romanov dynasty, at the centre of which rests a miniature portrait of the young Tsarevich Alexei — a private token of dynastic pride enclosed within an object of imperial ceremony.
The Heredis Atelier reconstruction renders this object at a level of detail unavailable to the physical visitor: the guilloché ground beneath the enamel, the precise cut and setting of each stone, the diamond faceting of the eagle’s surface — examined from any angle, at any scale, without glass between the viewer and the object.
The Heredis Atelier reconstruction renders this object at a level of detail unavailable to the physical visitor: the guilloché ground beneath the enamel, the precise cut and setting of each stone, the diamond faceting of the eagle’s surface — examined from any angle, at any scale, without glass between the viewer and the object.
imperial fabergè collection No.01
RECONSTRUCTION STATUS
Archival research — complete
3D modelling — complete
Turntable animation —complete
Release — 2025
3D modelling — complete
Turntable animation —complete
Release — 2025
The Tsarevich Egg
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info@faberge-heritage.ch
www.heredisatelier.ch
www.legacydigitalis.ch