Faberge Eggs III Online Quiz | Peter Carl Faberge

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. These questions are about the Imperial Eggs in chronological order. The first egg in this quiz was presented by Czar Nicholas to his wife in 1904. It is the largest of the Imperial eggs at 14 1/2 inches. It is also probably the most architectural of all the eggs. It represents the church in the Kremlin that is the traditional site of the coronation of the Czars. What is the name of this church?

Answer: The Uspensky Cathedral

The other name for Uspensky Cathedral is the Cathedral of the Annunciation. On top of an octagonal onyx base stand architectural elements of multi-colored gold, carved and chased to represent the brick and stone of the actual walls of the Kremlin. The roofs of the spires and domes are enameled in a brilliant green and topped with a flag, a cross and an Imperial eagle. Two of the towers contain clock faces and a colorful icon is set into the lower wall.

The dominant feature of the composition is the golden dome of the cathedral itself, which serves as the top half of the egg, and is topped with an Orthodox cross.

The lower half of the egg is enameled in pure white. The egg has three sets of three windows, symbolic of the Holy Trinity, set into it, through which may be seen delicate miniature copies of the frescos of the actual church. Rounding off the religious atmosphere of this egg, the Coronation hymn plays when a music box is wound with a gold key.

2. Czar Nicholas presented his wife with "The Colonnade Egg", probably in 1905. This exquisite composition in pink and green is named for the six Ionic columns which support a classical entablature which in turn carries the egg. What does this beautiful work of art probably commemorate?

Answer: The birth of a son and heir in 1904

This is probably my choice for the most romantic of the Imperial eggs. On a base of bowenite, a pale green semi-precious stone, four silver-gilt cherubs, representing the four daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra, hold garlands of four-color gold in front of a band of pink enamel bordered with gold mouldings.

This supports a Temple of Love of six bowenite columns with Ionic capitals and bases of gold, each encircled by a garland of four-color gold flowers. Inside the temple, a pair of platinum doves, representing the Imperial couple, caress each other on a pink enamel base.

The pink enamel egg set into the roof of the structure is a working clock; a revolving chapter ring of white enamel set with rose diamonds carries the twelve hours, each in rose diamonds on a pink enamel ground; a stationary arrowhead studded with diamonds points to the hours.

A silver-gilt Cupid armed with the tools of his trade, representing the new Czarevitch, or Crown Prince, sits atop the egg surrounded by more golden garlands of flowers.

3. The Rose Trellis Egg is "one of the prettiest, most feminine in the entire range of the Imperial Easter Eggs". What color of translucent enamel forms the background for the decoration?

Answer: Light green

The body of this egg has a machine-turned all-over pattern under translucent light green enamel. A trellis of platinum is gently curved to the contours of the egg. Winding through the trellis is a golden vine of climbing roses with dark green enamel leaves and blossoms enameled in shades of pink.

The date of 1907 is visible under a table cut diamond at the top. As with many of the Imperial eggs, the surprise inside has been lost.

4. The egg presented to the Czarina Alexandra in 1908 is another stunning creation. It is carved from dark green nephrite jade; rather than being applied, as in many of the eggs, the decoration here is carved and inlaid into the stone itself. The surprise inside is a stunning miniature copy of the home of Nicholas and Alexandra. What is the name of the palace and the egg which contains its facsimile?

Answer: The Alexander Palace

The ends of the egg are set with the initials of Alexandra Feordorovna and the date under table-cut diamonds, each surrounded by a wreath of gold leaves with flowers of rubies and diamonds inlaid into the stone of the egg. The sides of the eggs are divided by five staffs topped with pinecones and set with diamonds and connected by garlands and flowers similar to those at the ends of the egg. Between each staff are watercolors on ivory of the five Imperial children bordered with diamonds. Above each is that child's initial. On the back of each child's portrait, inside the egg, is engraved his or her name and birth date. The surprise in the egg is a tiny model of the Alexander Palace, Nicholas and Alexandra's family home, executed in multicolored gold and enamel.

The tiny building is mounted on a miniature table with round legs. "The Imperial Palace at Czarkoy Selo" is engraved on the base.

5. About 1909, the Czar presented a rock crystal egg containing a gold model of "The Standart" to his wife. The egg is of an elegant lapis blue, white and crystal color scheme. What was "The Standardt"?

Answer: The Imperial family's favorite yacht

The transparent egg rests on its side atop a pedestal formed of two interlaced dolphins of lapis lazuli, a beautiful dark blue semi-precious stone. At each end of the egg is a golden Imperial eagle enameled in blue to match the dolphins, one has been damaged and lacks his diamond crown. From a diamond set scroll beneath each hangs a large teardrop pearl.

Inside, meticulously detailed down to its threadlike rigging, the miniature yacht 'sails' on a sea made of a large aquamarine. The egg's large base is also of rock crystal, carved into tiers and ornamented with blue enamel bands and a diamond set encircling wreath with a top of white enamel and carved and ribbed gold.

6. In 1910, Czar Nicholas presented an egg of rock crystal to his mother marking the unveiling of a statue of his late father, Czar Alexander III (a sculpture much less inspired than the egg created to commemorate it). In color it is one of the most subdued eggs. As the transparent crystal is colorless, the only color in the egg itself is the metal of its mounts set with diamonds. In what metal is "The Alexander III Equestrian Egg" mounted?

Answer: Platinum

The polished egg is mounted to create a window effect on two sides and delicately etched around the edges. Inside is a gold replica of the stolid statue of Alexander III, standing on a substantial pedestal of lapis lazuli with a border of diamonds. The shallow dome of the egg is covered with a platinum net resembling lace set with rose diamonds with a large table diamond revealing the date at the top and diamond set platinum "fringe" at the bottom. On either side between the windows, two platinum mounts topped with Imperial eagles and set with diamonds join to the base, which is formed of four platinum volutes topped with winged cherub heads set with diamonds.

The entire composition rests on a quatrefoil base of carved rock crystal.

7. The egg presented to Alexandra in 1911 is one of the most intricate. It is decorated with eighteen delicately painted panels: seven portraits of the Imperial couple and their five children , nine scenes of significant events and two dates. This commemorates what Imperial anniversary?

Answer: The fifteenth anniversary of Nicholas' coronation

The eighteen panels of the Fifteenth Anniversary Egg are divided by bands of green enamel laurel leaves decorated with bands of tiny diamonds at the junctions. The oval portraits are framed by small rose diamonds on grounds of pearly white enamel. The nine small panels by the artist Zuiev are masterpieces of miniature painting. Several of these portray dozens of clearly differentiated figures in an area of barely more than an inch square, or even less.

At the top of the egg the Empress's monogram appears beneath a large table-cut diamond.

A large Rose-cut diamond is set in a similar way at the bottom. As the egg does not open, the pictures are the surprise in this case.

8. Czar Nicholas' gift to his mother, the Dowager Empress, in 1911 is one of the most original in concept. An orange tree with nephrite jade leaves and white enamel flowers, bearing fruit of faceted gems; pink diamonds, amethysts, and citrines, grows from a white agate planter. When the correct gem/orange is pressed the surprise is revealed, what is it?

Answer: A bird that flaps its wings, moves its beak, and sings

The tree grows on a gold trunk, chased to represent bark. The square, footed planter is applied with gold trellises on all four sides and decorated with green enameled swags fastened with cabochon rubies. The tiny bird, of gold and real feathers, rises from under a concealed lid at the top. All this magnificence sits on a simple square base of dark green nephrite. On each corner of this base is a nephrite post mounted with spirals of gold and toped by pearls. Connecting each of the posts is a swag of green enameled gold leaves and pearls.

9. 1912 was the centennial of the Russian victory over Napoleon and his forces at the battle of Borodino. For this anniversary, Nicolas presented his mother with one of the more overtly military eggs, the Napoleonic Egg. The surprise in this egg is a folding screen of six panels of elongated octagons painted by the talented Zuiev. What do the miniatures depict?

Answer: Regiments of which the Dowager Empress was honorary colonel

The egg is enameled in the dark green shade once known as Imperial. Vertical and horizontal bands of diamonds and chased gold leaves against a red ground divide the egg into six panels encircling the middle zone. Each panel bears a trophy of military emblems, such as a helmet, a quiver of arrows, a battle ax, and a bugle. One panel bears the Imperial double-headed eagle. Above and below the panels are wide bands of green enamel with rosette motifs set with small rose diamonds and flourishes of gold.

At the ends of the egg table diamonds are placed over the Empress's monogram at the top and the date at the bottom. Each panel of the screen inside is bordered with diamonds and framed by green enameled laurel leaves. The hinges of the screen are golden faceia, bundles of rods around a double-headed ax bound with bands of diamonds. On the reverse of each panel is the Empress's monogram on a green and gold medallion on a white enameled background.

10. The next egg, presented to the Empress Alexandra, is yet another anniversary egg. 1913 was the tercentenary (three-hundreth anniversary) of the accession of the House of Romanov to the Throne of Russia. On the exterior of the egg are eighteen miniatures of the Romanov Czars, from Alexis I to Nicholas II. What is the surprise inside this lavish egg?

Answer: A globe with the Russian empire in 1613 and 1913 in gold

This Romanov Tercentary egg's opalescent white enamel ground is almost hidden by the gold cage work consisting of the Imperial eagle with sword and scepter in its claws and the various historical crowns of the dynasty. This elaborate motif surrounds the miniature portraits of the Czars and Czarinas.

Inside is the globe of blued steel divided into two halves. Picked out in gold on each hemisphere is a map of the empire at the beginning and at the end of the dynasty (of course, they had no way of knowing at the time it was the end).

The egg is supported by the Imperial eagle, this time with three heads, of which only two are visible at any one time. The eagle sits on a circular base of purpurine, a purple-red mineral almost unique to the work of Faberge, and this is the only surviving example of its use in an Imperial egg.

11. In 1914 Empress Alexandra was presented with an egg absolutely unique among the Imperial gifts. Set with myriad stones; rubies, sapphires, diamonds, emeralds, garnets, topazes, and quartzes, it is called The Mosaic Egg, but might more accurately be compared to what sort of fine needle work?

Answer: Petit-point embroidery

Even in this spectacular collection, this egg is dazzling. Five oval panels encircle the middle, each framed by a row of pearls bordered in thin lines of white enamel with a diamond at the junctions. Above these panels is a band of diamonds set in a stylized wave pattern bordered in a similar way.

But the focus of the egg is the minute platinum mesh (think window screen) that fills in between. The squares of the mesh are filled with tiny square-cut stones to create the patterns of flowers and leaves; as the panels are thus transparent, the effect is something like a cross between petit-point and stained glass. Since each of the hundreds of stones had to be specially cut for its place, with a tiny notch just below the widest point of the stone for the miniscule platinum wire, the amount of work must have been tremendous.

At the top is a large moonstone over the monogram of the Empress. The surprise in this egg is an oval plaque on a base of gold set with demantoid (the rarest bright emerald green) garnets and diamonds and a stem of gold with white enamel and pearls accented with diamonds. On the front of the plaque is a representation of the five Imperial children painted in a cameo style, with the portraits in shades of white on a pink background. On the back is painted a basket of flowers in the same style, save that the background is green, surrounded with the children's names in Cyrillic script.

12. The last peacetime egg given by the Emperor to his mother, in 1914, is the Cameo egg, named for the allegorical paintings on the panels, painted in shades of pale pink and white on a darker pink background to imitate a shell cameo. Though it is separated from the egg, the surprise that came in this can be identified. According to a letter from the Dowager Empress to her sister, Queen Alexandra of England, what was the tiny automaton inside the egg?

Answer: A tiny sedan chair, carried by two automated bearers, with the Empress Catherine the Great inside

The lavish decoration on this egg, in a modified Louis XVI style, consists of the aforementioned panels; two large rectangular ones with figures symbolizing the arts on one side and the sciences on the other, and four smaller round panels with putti (winged cherubs) representing the four seasons, each bordered by a band of small pearls.

In between are panels of four-color gold with trophies representing the arts and sciences. An automaton answering to the Empress's description of Catherine in her sedan chair does survive, but it seems it is a bit too big to fit in the egg, and is therefore not considered to be the original piece (but I wonder...).

13. In the summer of 1914, Russia entered World War One and the last of the Imperial eggs represent this. In 1915 Nicholas presented his mother, dowager Empress Maria, with the Red Cross Egg. What is true of this egg and all the wartime eggs which makes them unique among the eggs represented in these quizzes?

Answer: There is not a single precious stone on any of them

This Spartan and severe egg shows the new wartime esthetic. Enameled in opalescent white over a machine turned ground, the egg is dedicated to the Red Cross, of which the Empress was patron. On each side is a red cross flanked by the dates 1914 and 1915. Running around the center is the biblical legend "Greater love hath no man than this; that he lay down his life for his friends," in gold Cyrillic script.

The surprise in this egg again follows the plain style of the rest. A five-panel folding screen bears oval portraits, bordered in gold on a white enameled sunburst ground, depicting the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law, Empress Alexandra and Alexandra's four daughter all wearing Red Cross uniforms. (This seems to be the only known case where Alexandra's picture is included in an egg intended for her mother-in-law.) The stark simplicity of the design and the sobriety of the theme eloquently express the troubled times.

14. World War I raged in 1916, and the Steel Military Egg, presented by the Czar to his wife, reflects these changing times, not least by its rather militaristic basic material, enhanced, but hardly softened by golden decoration. But the most war-like parts of the composition are the supports which carry the egg above the dark green jade base. What are these four pieces, representing the changing face of war?

Answer: Four artillery shells

The blued steel egg is divided into three sections by thin gold lines. A gold imperial crown surmonts it, and around the center zone are applied gold emblems including the Imperial Eagle, the monogram of the Empress and the date. The four shells, banded with gold, sit on a square, stepped nephrite jade base with a final plain gold moulding.

15. The last known imperial egg is the Cross of St. George Egg of 1916. Commemorating the military decoration awarded for bravery on the battlefield, it is the only egg to known to have left Russia with its original recipient, the Dowager Empress Maria, Nicholas' mother and Alexi's grandmother. Why did Maria retain it alone?

Answer: It was delivered to her while she was away from the capitol, and she was never able to return for the others before going into exile

The increasing economy required by the war is evident again in this egg. Made of silver, the surface is enameled in opalescent white with a matte finish. Through the translucent enamel is visible under-painting of a green leafy trelliswork alternating with tiny red and white crosses of the Order of St. George. Atop the enamel is the ribbon of the order in silver-gilt enameled with the colors of black and orange and arranged in swags and bows. On either side of the egg are medallions, apparently pendant from the ribbon, one bearing an enameled cross of the order, a white Maltese cross with the image of St. George slaying the dragon in the middle. Behind this is a portrait of the Emperor. On the other side is a similar medallion in silver with a St. George medal engraved with a profile of Nicholas under which is a portrait of the Czarevitch Alexi.

This egg marks the presentation of this order to Czar Nicholas. The Empress Dowager was at the imperial retreat in the Crimean, on the shore of the Black Sea, when she was presented with this egg by Faberge's son.

As she was later rescued by a British battleship, sent by her nephew King George V before she could return to St. Petersburg, this was the only egg to leave Russia with her. She lived most of the rest of her life in her native Denmark, where she died in 1928.

Source: Author griffinj

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Faberge Eggs III Trivia Quiz

I couldn't chose between the eggs Faberge created for the Russian Imperial family, so I've stretched them out through three quizzes. If you haven't played them yet, please try my Faberge Eggs quizzes I & II. Good luck and enjoy.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>