Russia, St. Petersburg / c. 1885–90
Miniature Crown Surprise from the Lapis Lazuli Easter Egg
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Miniature Crown Surprise from the Lapis Lazuli Easter Egg as miscellaneous (Russia, St. Petersburg · c. 1885–90).
The tiny diamond encrusted crown surprise is a replica of the Russian imperial crown made for Empress Catherine the Great in the 1700s.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this miscellaneous as gold, enamel, lapis lazuli, pearls, diamonds, rubies and credits Peter Carl Fabergé (Russian, 1846–1920).
The museum's collection notes: This Easter egg, like the subsequent ones produced by Fabergé for the imperial family, contains a surprise when opened. In this case, the egg opens to display a yellow enameled cover, resembling an egg yolk, which then opens to reveal a tiny replica of the Russian imperial crown, containing either a ruby or a pink sapphire suspended on a chain.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtMiniature Crown Surprise from the Lapis Lazuli Easter EggOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.