London | United Kingdom
There is a small handful of brands that with the mere mention of their name, images of royalty, decadence and even legend immediately springs to mind. None more so than Russian court jeweller Fabergé. The haute joaillier who are best known for their fabulous Imperial Eggs have collaborated with one of the world’s finest car manufacturers to create a very special Rolls-Royce Fabergé Egg.
The fascination with the bejewelled eggs started with the Russian Imperial family when the tradition of commissioning eggs to commemorate Easter. Since then, the fever for Fabergé Eggs started. Since then Royalty, aristocrats, the landed gentry and collectors have been clambering to own what is considered by most as the ‘holy grail’ of collectables.
With just 50 pre-1917 Imperial Eggs completed, these exceptionally precious creations are some of the most valuable and coveted objects ever to have been made.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Egg
For the first time in history, an iteration of the Spirit of Ecstasy, the enigmatic mascot that has adorned Rolls-Royce motor cars since 1911, is cocooned in an exquisite, contemporary, Fabergé Egg. The design, conceived by Rolls-Royce Designers Stefan Monro and Alex Innes and rendered by Fabergé Lead Designer Liisa Tallgren, has been brought to life by Fabergé workmaster Paul Jones, creating a contemporary interpretation of one of the world’s most fabled and prized possessions.
The commissioning of a Rolls-Royce motor car is often a seminal moment for the patron, so too is the commissioning of a Fabergé Egg.
What makes the Spirit of Ecstasy Fabergé Egg so special is that it is only the second to be commissioned since 1917 in the Imperial Class. This special class is reserved only for Fabergé’s most illustrious creations. This objet d’art’s allure stretches even further as it allows the collector to own a truly historic piece that celebrates the history of two of the most iconic brands in the world.
Standing at 160mm and weighing in at 400g, the Spirit of Ecstasy Egg is the result of a team of seven craftspeople from Fabergé working tirelessly to design and create a contemporary version of the iconic Imperial Eggs. In keeping with tradition the Rolls-Royce Fabergé Egg, the design contains the surprise and delight element that the Imperial Eggs became famous for.
The Egg rests on an engine-turned, hand-engraved, purple enamel guilloché base of 18 karat white gold. Arms of rose gold define the shape of the Egg, acting as a protective chamber for the Egg’s precious inhabitant. Upon operating the movement via a discreet lever at the base of the stand, a sense of theatre ensues as the boughs open to present the fine figurine of the Spirit of Ecstasy, hand-sculpted in frosted rock crystal, standing nobly in her opulent surrounds. The rose gold vanes, embellished with nearly 10 carats of round white diamonds, resolve into swathes of natural amethyst weighing over 390 carats, specially selected for its colour saturation and quality. The purple hue of the enamel and amethyst provide a playful nod to the use of colour found in Fabergé’s heritage.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Fabergé Egg be on public display in Fabergé’s London window throughout the festive season.
