Christie's has shattered records once again with its latest auction sale, shattering expectations with a staggering $30.2 million price tag for a Fabergé egg - specifically, the Winter Egg designed by Alma Theresia Pihl. The exquisite piece, crafted from rock crystal and adorning 4,508 diamonds, fetched an unprecedented sum in The Winter Egg and Important Works by Fabergé from a Princely Collection sale.
A testament to the enduring allure of these Imperial Easter eggs commissioned by Russian emperors, the Winter Egg is one of fifty surviving examples, created between 1885 and 1917. Commissioned by Czar Nicholas II for his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, in 1913, this particular piece is a stunning representation of Pihl's artistic prowess.
Featuring an intricately latticed snowflake motif crafted from rock crystal and platinum, with diamond-studded rivulets that evoke the ephemerality of ice and winter, the Winter Egg serves as both a masterpiece of technical skill and artistic expression. Upon opening, a bejeweled platinum basket cradling white quartz anemones in gold moss emerges, symbolizing the transition from cold winter to the glory of spring.
This sale not only sets a new world auction record for any work by Fabergé but also solidifies the atelier's reputation as a premier luxury artistry. Margo Oganesian, head of the Fabergé and Russian Works of Art department, stated that the sale reaffirms the "enduring significance" of this masterpiece and celebrates its technical and artistic brilliance.
The Christie's auction house has consistently demonstrated its ability to break records in high-stakes sales, with yesterday's Winter Egg fetch a staggering $30.2 million. This milestone marks a testament to the timeless allure of Fabergé eggs, which have captivated art enthusiasts worldwide for generations.
A testament to the enduring allure of these Imperial Easter eggs commissioned by Russian emperors, the Winter Egg is one of fifty surviving examples, created between 1885 and 1917. Commissioned by Czar Nicholas II for his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, in 1913, this particular piece is a stunning representation of Pihl's artistic prowess.
Featuring an intricately latticed snowflake motif crafted from rock crystal and platinum, with diamond-studded rivulets that evoke the ephemerality of ice and winter, the Winter Egg serves as both a masterpiece of technical skill and artistic expression. Upon opening, a bejeweled platinum basket cradling white quartz anemones in gold moss emerges, symbolizing the transition from cold winter to the glory of spring.
This sale not only sets a new world auction record for any work by Fabergé but also solidifies the atelier's reputation as a premier luxury artistry. Margo Oganesian, head of the Fabergé and Russian Works of Art department, stated that the sale reaffirms the "enduring significance" of this masterpiece and celebrates its technical and artistic brilliance.
The Christie's auction house has consistently demonstrated its ability to break records in high-stakes sales, with yesterday's Winter Egg fetch a staggering $30.2 million. This milestone marks a testament to the timeless allure of Fabergé eggs, which have captivated art enthusiasts worldwide for generations.