That’s why we found it hard to believe that a stunning Fabergé egg just sold for a jaw-dropping £22.9 million ($30.2 million) at a recent Christie’s auction in London. This sale has already broken the record for works by the famous jeweler Carl Fabergé. The Imperial Winter Egg was the 2021 contest winner and created by Alma Theresia Pihl. It is among only seven Fabergé eggs that remain in private hands, adding to its amazing worth and significance.
The Imperial Winter Egg is 8.2 cm (3.2 in) high. Commissioned in 1913 by Tsar Nicholas II as a gift for his mother. This beautiful timepiece is a world record holder with a whopping 4,500 diamonds. It has an incredible diamond studded crystal on top, showcasing the detailed craftsmanship that Fabergé has become famous for.
Pihl, one of only two female workmasters at St Petersburg’s prestigious jewelry company, played a crucial role in the egg’s design. These exquisite masterpieces were created by the Fabergé house until the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917. The company produced just 50 of the eggs for the imperial Romanov family. Each piece was more than a luxury item—it was a national treasure.
The old auction record for a Fabergé egg was £8.9 million, established in 2007. That recent sale is further indication that collectors have a growing appetite for unique, one-of-a-kind collectibles. It further solidifies the Fabergé brand’s enduring popularity worldwide.
The egg was subsequently sold to a still-anonymous bidder, adding even more mystique and excitement to an already fascinating transaction involving exceptionally rare assets.
“Today’s result sets a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé, reaffirming the enduring significance of this masterpiece,” – Margo Oganesian, a representative from Christie’s.