Cleveland Museum of Art

Ruby or Pink Sapphire Surprise from the Lapis Lazuli Easter Egg

Peter Carl Fabergé

Date

c. 1885–90

Medium

gold, enamel, lapis lazuli, pearls, diamonds, rubies

Culture

Russia, St. Petersburg

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This Easter egg, like the subsequent ones produced by Fabergé for the imperial family, contains a surprise when opened. In this case, the egg opens to display a yellow enameled cover, resembling an egg yolk, which then opens to reveal a tiny replica of the Russian imperial crown, containing either a ruby or a pink sapphire suspended on a chain. This tiny ruby or pink sapphire dangles from a diamond encrusted crown surprise, which is a replica of the Russian imperial crown made for Empress Catherine the Great in the 1700s.

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