Mosaic (Fabergé egg)

Mosaic Fabergé egg
Year delivered	1914
Customer	Alexandra Feodorovna
Current owner
Individual or institution	Elizabeth II
Year of acquisition	1933
Design and materials
Workmaster	Albert Holmström
Materials used	gold, platinum, enamel, diamond, various gems
Height	9.5 cm (3.7 in)
Width	7 cm (2.8 in) diameter
Surprise	7.9 cm × 5.5 cm × 2.9 cm (3.1 in × 2.2 in × 1.1 in)

The Mosaic egg is a jewelled enameled Easter egg made under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé in 1914. The egg was made for Nicholas II of Russia, who presented it to his wife, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna on Easter 1914. Its Easter 1914 counterpart (presented to the Dowager Empress) is the Catherine the Great egg.

The Egg was crafted by Albert Holmström (1876–1925) under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé and is made of yellow gold, platinum, brilliant diamonds, rose-cut diamonds, ruby, emerald, topaz, sapphire, garnet, half-pearls, moonstone, white enamel and opaque pink enamel. It consists of a series of yellow gold belts which are pavé-set with diamonds and a variety of gems in a floral pattern, providing a look of petit point tapestry work.

The pattern of the egg contains five oval panels bordered by half-pearls set in enamel, with brilliant diamonds placed at each intersection. The technical precision of the design was complemented by platinum that was cut, rather than welded. At the apex of the egg is a moonstone through which can be seen the year 1914 and Empress Alexandra's initials in Russian characters.

The floral tapestry pattern was designed by Alma Theresia Pihl, who was inspired by needlework fire screens found in aristocratic sitting rooms of the time. Pihl was the niece of the egg's workmaster Albert Holmström, who came from a family of Finnish jewelers employed by Fabergé.

...
Wikipedia