The Faberge Egg as a Symbol of Eternal Love: Tales of Romance and Passion

The jewelry that people are familiar with is often rings, necklaces, and earrings, but in the jewelry industry, there is a style that is unique-extremely luxurious, exquisite and exquisite, and one piece is priceless, egg.

Easter eggs represent a special festival of the Orthodox Church, but the eggs made of jewelry are the witness of the love between the Russian Emperor Alexander III and the last Empress Dowager Maria.

In 1885, Alexander III had been on the throne for 20 years. In order to thank Maria who silently accompanied him, Alexander III decided to give Maria a special gift.

As the queen of Russia, Maria has countless treasures, such as egg-sized sapphires and diamonds, what other gift can be both gorgeous and innovative?

At that time, it was Easter in Russia, and the Easter egg was the most typical symbol of Easter. For this reason, Alexander III specially commissioned the jeweler Faberge to make an Easter egg.

This easter egg is inspired by Maria's favorite childhood toy. Although it looks plain on the outside, there is a mystery hidden inside.

A golden hen with a diamond crown and a ruby ​​egg in its belly. It is said that the Tsar also participated in the design of this egg.

After Maria received the gift, she couldn't put it down. In order to win Maria's favor, Alexander III decided to give Maria an Easter egg every year in the future.

It is easy to give gifts for a year, but it is not easy to insist on giving gifts every year and have to change the pattern.

But Alexander III persisted. In the following ten years, every Easter, Maria will receive an Easter egg. These eggs not only have different appearances, but the small traps inside often make Maria happy all day.

The egg below, called the Danish Royal Palace, was a gift from Alexander III to Maria in 1890.

The appearance of the easter egg is girly pink, the surface is inlaid with six vertical lines and three horizontal lines made of diamonds, and a sapphire is inlaid on the top.

Open the eggs, and inside are 10 watercolor miniature screens, all of which are Danish landscapes, which are made to ease Maria's homesickness.

The Sea of ​​Azov easter egg was made in 1891 and is inlaid with platinum, gold, and diamonds. Inside the eggshell is a miniature model of the warship "Azov" to celebrate Zazevic in 1890. . Nicholas and Grand Duke George's voyage to the Far East.

The design of the diamond mesh easter egg below is even more exquisite. Inside the egg is a miniature mechanical elephant inlaid with gems, which can be opened with a key, and the workmanship is very exquisite.

Compared with the easter egg above, the appearance of the easter egg below is quite gorgeous. It was a gift from Alexander III to Maria in 1893 to pray for his son George Alexandrovich.

The surface of the egg is inlaid with red enamel, diamonds, and pearls. There are 4 small oval doors on the egg, and miniature watercolor paintings are drawn inside the door.

There is also a mechanism hidden on the top of the egg, and when it is opened, there is a portrait of George Alexandrovich wearing a navy costume.

But such a beautiful day is completely over this year.

In October 1888, Alexander III's family had a sudden accident while taking the royal train, killing 23 people and injuring 19 people. psychological shadow.

Since then, Alexander III has been depressed and became ill. On October 20, 1894, Alexander III passed away.

On November 1, 1894, the eldest son Nicholas II ascended the throne, and Maria became the Empress Dowager of Russia.

The departure of Alexander III dealt a great blow to Maria. She was immersed in grief all day long and washed her face with tears.

In order to help his mother get out of grief as soon as possible, Nicholas II continued the tradition of his father, Alexander III, and gave his mother a Faberge egg every Easter.

Compared with the love and fun Easter eggs sent by Alexander III, the Easter eggs sent by Nicholas II are full of memories.

Made in 1896, this Egg of the Tsar's Twelve Arms is made of translucent blue enamel.

The diamond divides the egg into 12 areas, the upper part is embedded with the royal coat of arms of Alexander III, and the lower part is embedded with the royal coat of arms of Maria, which is the best gift for Mary to mourn her deceased husband.

After opening, there are three photo frames, forming a clover shape that symbolizes luck and blessing.

In Western culture, clover has the meaning of luck and blessing, and this easter egg entrusts the blessing of Tsar Nicholas II to his mother.

This Danish royal silver jubilee egg, completed in 1903, is made of gold, enamel, watercolor ivory, etc.

It is decorated with the iconic pattern of the Danish royal family, an elephant is embedded on the top of the egg, and the inside of the egg is a miniature head of the Danish king to ease the mother's homesickness.

Nicholas II also gave Empress Dowager Maria a commemorative egg commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty.

It is inlaid with more than 1,100 diamonds and portraits of successive emperors. There is a globe inside the egg, which is very commemorative.

For Maria, Nicholas II is a filial son, but for the people of Russia, Nicholas II is no different from a mediocre monarch.

During the reign of Nicholas II, when Russia entered imperialism from capitalism, class contradictions were sharp, and the tsarist system had become quite decadent.

However, Nicholas II still continued the ruling methods of his father Alexander III, which led to a widening gap between the rich and the poor in the country and intensified social conflicts.

In 1914, the First World War broke out, and the Russian revolutionary movement intensified. There were many scandals inside and outside the court, and the people rioted.

In March 1917, the February Revolution broke out, Nicholas II was forced to abdicate, and the Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia for nearly 300 years, came to an end.

And Maria, under the arrangement of her sister Alexandra, came to live in a royal residence in Crimea. Later, she moved to England.

Not long after, the news of the death of Nicholas II's family reached Maria's ears, but Maria was still unwilling to believe it.

In June 1918, Maria's youngest son, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, died of illness. Maria was instantly overwhelmed and depressed all day long.

Later, Maria decided to return to Denmark to spend the rest of her life. In 1928, the Queen Mother Maria died at the age of 81.