Nécessaire Egg

Nécessaire Egg is a jeweled Fabergé egg made under the supervision of the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé in 1889. The egg was made for Alexander III of Russia, who presented it to his wife, the Empress Maria Feodorovna on Easter.

History

The Nécessaire Egg is one of the Imperial Fabergé eggs, a series of unique creations commissioned by the Russian Imperial family from 1885 to 1917. The egg was crafted in 1889, four years after the first Imperial Fabergé egg, the Hen Egg, was presented to the Empress.

The Nécessaire Egg is unique among the Fabergé eggs in that it does not contain a surprise. Instead, the egg itself opens to reveal a series of miniature toiletries, or nécessaire, hence the name. The egg was last seen in public in 1949 and its current whereabouts are unknown.

Design

The Nécessaire Egg is made of gold and is encrusted with diamonds and rubies. The egg is designed to open lengthwise, revealing a velvet-lined interior that contains 13 miniature toiletries, including a mirror, a comb, a lipstick, and a powder puff. The egg is also decorated with a series of intricate designs, including floral motifs and geometric patterns.

Legacy

The Nécessaire Egg, like all Fabergé eggs, is considered a masterpiece of jewelry and decorative art. Its disappearance has added to its mystique and it is considered one of the most sought-after of the lost Fabergé eggs.

See also

• List of Fabergé eggs
• Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
• House of Fabergé