The Monaco Egg, a masterpiece made by the House of Fabergé, has an undeniable imperial provenance.

Previously dated 1887, it was presented by Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra to Empress Maria Feodorovna in honor of the 1895 Easter festivities, the first celebration of its kind since Emperor Alexander III’s death in the Fall of 1894. This egg initiated the tradition of a series of eggs offered by Nicholas II to his mother. With the exception of the third imperial egg, whose surprise included a watch that transformed the egg into a clock, the Monaco egg represents the first clock egg in the imperial series. Many of the clock eggs were presented to Empress Maria who enjoyed collecting elaborate mechanisms.

(full text in French)