On December 2, 2025, a dazzling piece of Russian imperial history shattered auction records at Christie’s in London. The storied Fabergé Winter Egg, a jewel-studded masterpiece once gifted by Czar Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, fetched a staggering $30.2 million after a brief but intense three-minute bidding war. The sale, confirmed by Christie’s and widely reported by outlets including CNN, The Independent, and IDEX Online, marks the highest sum ever paid for a work by the famed Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé.
The Winter Egg’s journey to this historic moment is as intricate as its design. Crafted in 1913, during the twilight years of the Romanov dynasty, the egg was commissioned by Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother—a tradition steeped in opulence and imperial pride. According to The New York Times, it was designed by Alma Pihl, one of Fabergé’s most celebrated artists. The egg stands four inches tall, carved from luminous rock crystal that evokes the look of melting ice, and is adorned with platinum snowflakes and a jaw-dropping 4,500 diamonds. The interior features an engraved frost design, while inside, a platinum trelliswork basket of carved quartz flowers, studded with rose-cut diamonds, awaits as a hidden surprise—a signature touch of Fabergé’s genius.
“Today’s result sets a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé, reaffirming the enduring significance of this masterpiece and celebrating the rarity and brilliance of what is widely regarded as one of Fabergé’s finest creations, both technically and artistically,” said Margo Oganesian, Christie’s head of department for Fabergé and Russian works of art, in a statement quoted by The Independent and The Guardian. She added, “With only a handful of imperial Easter eggs remaining in private hands, this was an exceptional and historic opportunity for collectors to acquire a work of unparalleled importance.”
The sale price—£22.9 million, or €27.5 million, as reported by EuroNews—soared past the pre-sale estimate of $27 million and obliterated the previous auction record for a Fabergé egg. That record, set in 2007 by the Rothschild Egg at £8.9 million ($11.9 million), was surpassed by more than £13 million. Notably, the Winter Egg has set world records on three separate occasions: first in 1994, when it sold for $9.1 million at Christie’s Geneva; again in 2002, when it fetched $9.6 million at Christie’s New York; and now, with its 2025 sale, it has reclaimed its title as the world’s most valuable Fabergé egg. As IDEX Online notes, the Winter Egg was the highlight of a Christie’s sale that raised a total of $53.5 million.
The Winter Egg is not only a marvel of craftsmanship but also a witness to the tumultuous tides of Russian and European history. After the 1917 Russian Revolution, the egg was removed from St. Petersburg to the Kremlin Armoury in Moscow, along with other treasures of the deposed Romanov family. In the 1920s, the Soviet government, desperate for hard currency, began selling off art from the Hermitage Museum and other state collections. The Winter Egg was acquired by London antiques dealer Wartski for a mere £450 and then sold to a British collector in 1934 for £1,500—a far cry from its modern-day price tag.
For two decades, from 1975 to 1994, the egg’s whereabouts were a mystery, with many believing it lost to history. Its reemergence at a 1994 Christie’s auction, where it sold for 7,263,500 Swiss francs (£6.8 million), reignited global fascination. Eight years later, in 2002, it was once again sold by Christie’s, this time for $9,579,000 (£7.1 million), continuing its legacy as a record-breaker. The egg’s repeated appearances at auction and its storied provenance have only added to its allure among collectors and historians alike.
What makes the Winter Egg so exceptional, beyond its technical brilliance, is its status as one of only 50 Imperial Easter Eggs produced by the House of Fabergé between 1885 and 1916. Of those, just 43 are believed to survive today, and only seven—including the Winter Egg—remain in private hands. The rest are housed in museums and royal collections around the world. This rarity, coupled with its imperial origins and the artistry of Alma Pihl, has cemented its reputation as one of the most significant and coveted works in Fabergé’s legacy.
Collectors and connoisseurs are drawn not only to the egg’s glittering surface but also to the stories it encapsulates: the grandeur of the Romanovs, the upheaval of revolution, and the enduring allure of lost treasures rediscovered. As The Guardian observed, the Fabergé eggs have come to symbolize the extravagance—and eventual downfall—of the Russian imperial family. Yet, more than a century after the fall of the Romanovs, the extraordinary workmanship and scarcity of these eggs continue to inspire awe and command extraordinary prices.
Christie’s described the Winter Egg as “among the most lavish and artistically inventive of the 50 imperial eggs made by the House of Fabergé.” Its pearly crystal base, platinum snowflake motifs, and diamond-encrusted details make it a standout even among its illustrious peers. The egg’s hidden surprise—a flower basket of carved quartz and platinum—adds a whimsical, almost magical dimension, reminding us of Fabergé’s flair for combining technical mastery with a sense of wonder.
While the identity of the buyer remains a closely guarded secret, the sale has electrified the world of art and collectibles. For those who missed out, the Winter Egg’s journey is far from over. Its story, woven through the halls of imperial palaces, revolutionary upheaval, and the world’s most prestigious auction houses, continues to captivate and inspire. As Margo Oganesian put it, the sale reaffirms the enduring significance of Fabergé’s masterpiece and celebrates “the rarity and brilliance of what is widely regarded as one of Fabergé’s finest creations, both technically and artistically.”
With its breathtaking beauty, storied past, and record-breaking price, the Winter Egg stands as a testament to the enduring power of art to transcend time, politics, and fortune.
