Twelve Monograms (Fabergé egg)
Encyclopedia
The Twelve Monograms is a jewelled
Easter egg
made under the supervision of the Russia
n jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
in 1895, for the then Tsar
of Russia, Nicholas II
.
Tsar Nicholas presented the egg to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Fyodorovna.
The egg was the first presented to Tsar Nicholas, continuing the tradition started under his father, Alexander III
After Alexander's death, in the short time remaining before the Easter holiday in 1895, Fabergé had not only to rework the egg that had originally been planned for Maria Fyodorovna prior to her husband's death, but also to create an appropriate egg for Alexandra.
The Twelve Monograms egg was the first Fabergé egg given by Tsar Nicholas to his mother.
It is currently held in the Hillwood Museum in Washington, D.C.
as part of the Marjorie Merriweather Post Collection.
and Maria Fedorovna, set and crowned in diamonds, set against the dark blue enamel with a design of red gold, rose-cut diamonds, portrait diamonds and velvet lining. It's covered by six panels each divided by bands set with rose-cut diamonds and decorated with the Imperial crown and Imperial monograms (MF) "Maria Fyodorovna" and (AIII) "Alexander III". Each monogram appears six times, with Maria's monogram appearing on the top half of the egg and Alexander's appearing on the bottom.
For a long time this egg was thought to have been the 1892 gift for Maria and Alexander's 25th wedding anniversary. Instead it was presented to Maria in memory of Alexander.
The design was very simple because Faberge only had six months to create it. He had to rework the egg originally planned before Alexander's death and he was also making an egg for Alexandra at the same time.
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
Easter egg
Easter egg
Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans...
made under the supervision of the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Karl Fabergé also known as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé in Russia was a Russian jeweller of Baltic German-Danish and French origin, best known for the famous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane materials.-Early...
in 1895, for the then Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
of Russia, Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
.
Tsar Nicholas presented the egg to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Fyodorovna.
The egg was the first presented to Tsar Nicholas, continuing the tradition started under his father, Alexander III
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
After Alexander's death, in the short time remaining before the Easter holiday in 1895, Fabergé had not only to rework the egg that had originally been planned for Maria Fyodorovna prior to her husband's death, but also to create an appropriate egg for Alexandra.
The Twelve Monograms egg was the first Fabergé egg given by Tsar Nicholas to his mother.
It is currently held in the Hillwood Museum in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as part of the Marjorie Merriweather Post Collection.
Craftsmanship
Each panel of the egg contains a Cyrillic cipher of Alexander IIIAlexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
and Maria Fedorovna, set and crowned in diamonds, set against the dark blue enamel with a design of red gold, rose-cut diamonds, portrait diamonds and velvet lining. It's covered by six panels each divided by bands set with rose-cut diamonds and decorated with the Imperial crown and Imperial monograms (MF) "Maria Fyodorovna" and (AIII) "Alexander III". Each monogram appears six times, with Maria's monogram appearing on the top half of the egg and Alexander's appearing on the bottom.
For a long time this egg was thought to have been the 1892 gift for Maria and Alexander's 25th wedding anniversary. Instead it was presented to Maria in memory of Alexander.
The design was very simple because Faberge only had six months to create it. He had to rework the egg originally planned before Alexander's death and he was also making an egg for Alexandra at the same time.