Cleveland Museum of Art

Egg on Stand with Easel and Photograph of Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaievich

Alexander Edward Tillander

Date

c. 1890–1896

Medium

gold, enamel, sapphire, gold easel and stand, paper, faceted green glass

Culture

Russia, St. Petersburg

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In the Russian Orthodox religious tradition, eggs are offered as Easter gifts to symbolize rebirth, renewal, and the resurrection of Christ. This jeweled Russian egg is engraved with XB symbolizing the phrase, “Christ is risen,” and would have been given to a lady in a wealthy household, perhaps someone of high rank within the imperial court, given the richness of materials.

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