Miss Meadows' Pearls: Fabergé Friday

The next of the fifty-two Imperial Fabergé eggs - the egg of 1888 - is, yet again, a missing one. It's name is the "Cherub with Chariot Egg" or "Angel with Egg in Chariot". It's described to be made up of an angel pulling a chariot with an egg on it. The surprise inside would have been a clock. No clear picture of this egg exists...

The fifth egg - from 1889 - is also missing. It's called the "Nécessaire Egg", was designed as an etui, and probably contained the surprise of a set of thirteen diamond-encrusted woman's manicure set. this is not certain though, since no pictures of the egg or it's contents exist...

Then, finally, I can show you a picture of an egg that hasn't been lost: The "Danish Palaces Egg" from 1890!

The outside of the egg is divided into twelve sections of enameled gold, divided by lines of rose-cut diamonds. Wherever the lines meet there's an emerald, and the whole thing is crowned by a medallion of radiating leaves and a cabochon star sapphire! When the egg is opened the surprise unfolds as a row of little watercolor pictures - signed by Konstantin Krijitski - painted on tiny panels made of mother of pearl.

The Tsar's wife - Maria Feodorovna - was born in Denmark, so all the little paintings depict yachts and mansions owned by her family in her land of birth: