We have now reached Imperial Easter Egg number forty-seven - the "Romanov Tercentenary Egg", from 1913!
In 1913 the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty was celebrated, and this egg was made to commemorate the event. The gold egg is faced with white transparent enamel on a guilloche background. This surface is almost covered in over 1100 diamonds and gold state symbols though. There are double-headed eagles, royal crowns, and wreathes. But there are also eighteen miniatures, framed with diamonds, of the Tsars of the house of Romanov. These are painted in watercolor on ivory by Vassily I. Zuev. At the top of the egg sits a large diamond with the years "1613" and "1913" engraved under it, and at the bottom sits a triangular diamond covering the monogram "A.F.". The portraits are as follows:
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Mikhail Feodorovich 1613-1645 |
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Alexei Mikhailovich 1645-1676 |
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Feodor Alexeevich 1676-1682 |
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Ivan V 1682-1696 |
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Sofia Alexeevna 1682-1689 |
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Peter The Great, Tsar 1682-1721,
Emperor of Russia 1721-1725 |
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Catharine I 1725-1727 |
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Peter II 1727-1730 |
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Anna Ivanova 1730-1741 |
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Elizaveta Petrovna 1741-1761 |
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Peter III 1761-1762 |
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Catherine the Great 1762-1796 |
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Paul I 1796-1802 |
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Alexander I 1801-1825 |
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Nicholas I 1825-1855 |
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Alexander II 1855-1881 |
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Alexander III 1881-1894 |
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Nicholas II 1894-1917 |
The egg is held by a threefold heraldic eagle, symbolizing the power and glory of the Romanov Dynasty. The eagles are holding the Imperial scepter, orb and the Romanov sword in their talons. The purpurine base on which they stand represents the Russian Imperial shield.
The inside of the egg is decorated with white opalescent enamel on a ground carved with guilloche ornaments. The surprise is a rotating globe, made of burnished blue steel - to represent water - and different colored gold - to represent land. The globe consists of two northern hemispheres. One half shows Russia's territory at the time when the first Romanov Tsar - Mikhail Feodorovich - entered the throne in 1613. And the other shows the territory of the Russian Empire in 1913, when Nicholas II ruled.
The "Romanov Tercentenary Egg" is one of ten Imperial Easter Eggs in the collection at the Kremlin Armory.
That egg is mega..I love how it opens, so pretty. Like a space egg or transporting device, haha!! The details are gorgeous. Hope you have a wonderful Friday & weekend to come doll!! xx
ReplyDeleteI love this egg so much Miss Meadows, it really is incredibly intricate. Have a great Friday as well.
ReplyDeleteis it really an egg? :0> awesome!<3
ReplyDeletewanna follow each other?
kisses
Ayu