Empire Nephrite (Fabergé egg)

The Empire Nephrite (sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Alexander III Medallion) egg is a jewelled Easter egg, purported to be one of the Imperial Eggs made under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé in 1901–1902 for Nicholas II of Russia, who presented it to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, at Easter 1902. This provenance has been challenged by some Fabergé experts.

History
The name of the egg refers to the fact that it was made in the Empire Style, from nephrite. The original Fabergé invoice reads: "Egg, 'Empire', from nephrite, with gold, two diamonds and miniature". The egg reappeared in the mid-1990s and some Fabergé researchers were of the mistaken opinion that this egg featured a portrait medallion of Alexander III of Russia, though the original bill did not refer to a portrait of Alexander III.

This mistake was result of a misinterpretation of the Moscow Armory Chamber valuables selection list. This list noted an "Egg from nephrite, on a golden base, and with portrait of the Emperor Alexander III in a medallion". Because of this, many researchers were certain that the 1902 Imperial egg featured an Alexander III portrait, though there is no evidence to support this.

However, in 2015, during research by a specially commissioned group of experts, a unique historical document was brought to the attention of the experts – the "List of the personal property of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, located in storage at Gatchina Palace" by 28 July 1917. This 12-page booklet mentions at least 150 items, including 7 Imperial Fabergé eggs that belonged to the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. This document was first published in 2013.

On the second page of this document, as number 10, there is a description "Egg with gold mounts, on two nephrite columns, with portraits of Gr. Dss. Olga Alexandrovna and Duke P.A. Oldenburg inside". This description is the most accurate that Fabergé researchers have to date concerning the egg of 1902, which was previously mistaken for an "Egg from nephrite, on a gold base and with portrait of the Emperor Alexander III in a medallion".

The egg is currently in a private collection in New York, USA.



Questioned authenticity
The egg's authenticity is disputed by several Fabergé experts, who believe the Empire Nephrite egg is still lost or missing.

In an article published by a Russian art dealer based in London specialized in Fabergé, is provided some information about this controversial piece: "No one knows where it came from. It was smuggled to London in 1996 after being ‘discovered’ by a dealer in St Petersburg," emphasizing that: "None of the world's major Fabergé dealers have expressed an interest in this egg. None of the world's top Fabergé experts have endorsed it." The object was offered to him for $2,000,000 in 2005. It was acquired by its current American owner in 2012. Some years later, he was re-offered the item for €55,000,000 in March 2018.

The egg was inspected in New York on 27 January 2015, the meeting was attended by the egg's owner, Fabergé specialist Geza von Habsburg, restorer Nikolai Bashmakov, Wartski Director Kieran McCarthy, Sotheby's Karen Kettering, the ex-Forbes Collection's Carol Aiken, a lady from the Russian Culture Ministry, and a Russian historian. A second meeting took place also in New York on 18 May 2015. This time, Kieran McCarthy, Geza von Habsburg, Carol Aiken and the Russian Culture Ministry opted out. After those meetings, the book "Fabergé: The Imperial “Empire” Egg of 1902" was published in 2017 where its authors defend its authenticity. In 2020, however, another study was published by a team of Dutch researchers defending just the opposite in "Het Empire Nephrite egg".