1887 Blue Serpent Clock Egg
Presented by Alexander
III to Maria Fyodorovna
Made in Saint Petersburg
Owner: Prince Rainier III of Monaco Collection
(april 2005 inherited by Prince Albert II ?)
Height: 18,3 cm
The Blue Serpent Clock Egg is made of varicolored gold, diamonds and translucent royal blue and opalescent white enamel. Designed as a clock in the Sèvres tradition, this Egg is a beautiful example of Fabergé's use of the quatre couleur technique in gold. Around the shaft supporting the Egg, a diamond-set serpent is coiled, the head and tongue pointing to the hour.
Background information
In 1927 bought by Michel Norman of the Paris-based Australian Pearl Company, probably from a Russian official of the Antikvariat. In 1950 bought by Wartski, London. In 1974 sold again. 1989 private collection, Switzerland, 1992 owned by Prince Rainier III of Monaco. April 2005 Inherited by Prince Albert II, son of Prince Rainier III.
This Egg is very similar to the "Duchess of Marlborough Egg" (ca. 1902).
This Egg is one of the "Clock Eggs". Here you can see them all together
page updated: March 15, 2008