Danish Palaces (Fabergé egg)
This egg was presented by Alexander III to Marie Feodorovna. It was made in St. Petersburg by workmaster M. Perchin.
It is made of gold, enamel, diamons, rose-cut diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and velvet lining. A star sapphire in a cluster of diamonds surmounts the gold egg enameled in translucent pink.
Currently it is located in the New Orleans Museum of Art as part of the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation.
History of the Egg
Before marrying Alexander, Marie was the Danish Princess Dagmar.
Surprise
The egg contained a screen made of red, gold and quatre coleur cold and watercolour on mother of pearl. It depicted palaces and residents in Russia and Denmark.
The panels were painted by court miniaturist Konstatin Krijitski and are signed '1889'.
The ten panels, left to right are the Imperial Yacht "Polar Star"; Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen; Estate of Hvidore near Copenhagen; the Summer Residence of Fredensborg Castle; Bernsdoff Castle, Copenhagen; Kronborg Castle, Elsinore; two views of the Cottage Palace; Alexandria Park, Peterhof; Gatchina Palace, near St. Petersburg and teh Imperial Yacht "Tsarevna".