When I first stepped into the Fabergé gallery at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, I didn’t expect to be so mesmerized. Behind five glass cases sat glittering jewel-covered eggs, small enough to fit in your hand but priceless beyond imagination.
Let’s take a look at why Fabergé eggs are so captivating.
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What Are Fabergé Eggs?
Fabergé eggs are ornate jeweled Easter eggs created in Russia between 1885 and 1917 by the House of Fabergé, led by master goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé. They were initially made as Easter gifts for the Russian royal family – the Romanovs – and became symbols of elegance, craftsmanship, and excess.
Each egg is unique, handcrafted from gold, enamel, and gemstones, and often hides a “surprise” inside: a tiny crown, a miniature portrait, or even a mechanical toy!
🌟Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Creator | Peter Carl Fabergé and the House of Fabergé, St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Years Made | 1885 – 1917 |
| Purpose | Lavish Easter gifts commissioned by the Russian tsars for their wives and mothers |
| Total Created | ~69 eggs (about 50 Imperial Easter eggs for the Romanov family) |
| Known to Survive Today | Around 60 eggs (several are still missing) |
| Materials Used | Gold, platinum, enamel, diamonds, pearls, and precious gemstones |
| Distinctive Feature | Each egg hides a “surprise” inside – miniature portraits, crowns, mechanical toys, etc. |
| Most Valuable Egg | Third Imperial Egg (1887) – valued around $33 million |
| Other Notable Eggs | Winter Egg (1913), Coronation Egg (1897), Rosebud Egg (1895) |
| Where to See Them | Fabergé Museum (St. Petersburg), Kremlin Armoury (Moscow), Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), and other collections worldwide |
| Fun Fact | The first egg was so loved that the Tsar immediately ordered another – starting a 30-year tradition of Imperial Easter eggs |
How Many Exist?
Around 50 Imperial Fabergé eggs were made for Russia’s tsars. And about 60–70 eggs exist in total when you count other private commissions.
Some were lost or sold during the Russian Revolution, and only about 60 are known today. That rarity is part of what makes them so fascinating.
How Much Are They Worth? 💰
It’s hard to put a price on them, but the most valuable Fabergé eggs are worth tens of millions of dollars.
For example, the 1913 Winter Egg reportedly sold for over $9 million, and one “lost” Imperial egg was rediscovered in a flea-market find worth $33 million!
Imperial Red Cross Easter Egg
Where You Can See Them
You don’t have to fly to Russia to see these masterpieces. Richmond, Virginia, has one of the best Fabergé collections in the world. This is where I became fascinated with Fabergé eggs.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) displays five Imperial Fabergé eggs, along with other glittering works of art from the Russian court. The exhibit was donated by collector Lillian Thomas Pratt and is one of the largest Fabergé collections outside Russia.
If you’re anywhere near Richmond, it’s absolutely worth the visit. The eggs are breathtaking, and each one tells a story of love, luxury, and a lost empire.
Where else can you see Fabergé eggs?
🌍 Where to See Fabergé Eggs Around the World
| Location & Museum | Details |
|---|---|
| 🇷🇺 St. Petersburg, Russia – Fabergé Museum (Shuvalov Palace) | 9 Imperial Easter eggs, including the Coronation Egg and Lilies of the Valley Egg. One of the world’s largest Fabergé collections. |
| 🇷🇺 Moscow, Russia – Kremlin Armoury Museum | 10 Imperial eggs that remained in Russia after the Revolution, such as the Moscow Kremlin Egg and Alexander Palace Egg. |
| 🇺🇸 Richmond, Virginia – Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) | Features 5 Imperial eggs from the Lillian Thomas Pratt collection, including the Pelican Egg and Peter the Great Egg. |
| 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland – Walters Art Museum | 2 Imperial eggs: the Gatchina Palace Egg and the Rose Trellis Egg. |
| 🇺🇸 Washington, D.C. – Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens | Contains Imperial-quality eggs such as the Catherine the Great Egg and the Twelve Monograms Egg. |
| 🇺🇸 New York City, USA – Metropolitan Museum of Art | Several Imperial eggs from the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation, including the Diamond Trellis Egg. |
| 🇬🇧 London, UK – Victoria and Albert Museum | Owns the ornate Mosaic Egg and other Fabergé masterpieces. |
| 🇩🇪 Baden-Baden, Germany – Fabergé Museum | Dedicated entirely to Fabergé’s art, with pieces like the Apple Blossom Egg and Rothschild Egg. |
| 🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark – Amalienborg Palace Museum | Displays the Danish Palaces Egg, gifted by Tsar Alexander III to his Danish-born wife, Maria Feodorovna. |
| 🇨🇭 Lausanne, Switzerland – Fondation Edouard & Maurice Sandoz | Holds the Laurel Egg and other Fabergé works. |
| 🇫🇷 Paris, France – Musée des Arts Décoratifs | Includes the Cockerel Egg and other exceptional Fabergé creations. |
| 🇸🇪 Stockholm, Sweden – Nationalmuseum | Displays the Kelch Chanticleer Egg, one of Fabergé’s private commission pieces. |
| 🇶🇦 Doha, Qatar – Al Thani Collection | A private collection featuring Fabergé works occasionally displayed in international exhibitions. |
💡 Note: Some Fabergé eggs belong to private collections or rotate between exhibitions, so availability may vary. Always check each museum’s website before planning a visit.
Imperial Rock Crystal Fabergé Egg with Revolving Miniatures
❓FAQ’s
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long did it take to make a Fabergé egg? | Most eggs took one to two years to complete, involving teams of goldsmiths, jewelers, enamelers, and miniature painters working in secret until Easter delivery. |
| What is the most valuable Fabergé egg? | The Third Imperial Egg (1887) is among the most valuable, valued at over $33 million after being rediscovered in 2014. |
| Where can you see the most Fabergé eggs? | The Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia holds the largest public collection with nine Imperial eggs. |
| What makes them so special? | The eggs were designed by Peter Carl Fabergé and crafted by teams of master artisans in his workshops in St. Petersburg. |
| Who made the eggs? | The eggs were designed by Peter Carl Fabergé and crafted by teams of master artisans in his St. Petersburg workshops. |
| Who were they made for? | Most were commissioned by the Russian tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers. |
| Why did Fabergé stop making the eggs? | Production ended after the Russian Revolution of 1917, when the royal family was overthrown and the Fabergé workshops were closed. |
Final Thoughts
Standing in front of a Fabergé egg feels like standing at the intersection of art and history.
These tiny treasures have survived revolutions, royal secrets, and the passage of time, yet they still sparkle with the same magic that once captivated the Russian tsars.
Whether you see them in St. Petersburg or Richmond, each egg reminds us how beauty, creativity, and storytelling can transcend centuries.
If you’re in Richmond, VA, I highly recommend visiting the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Not only is the Fabergé egg collection fascinating, but you’ll also see Egyptian treasures, beautiful art, and many other noteworthy finds.
📍 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220
Free admission – open daily.
Peter the Great Easter Egg
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