HISTORY OF THE FABERGE EGGS: Easter is an important feast of the Russian Orthodox church calendar. It is celebrated with the exchanging of decorated eggs and three kisses.
And the most famous decorated Easter eggs are those made by renowned goldsmith, Peter Carl Faberge. In 1883, Czar Alexander commissioned Faberge to make a special Easter gift for his wife, the Czarina Maria Feodorovna.
The star piece of Viktor Vekselberg's collection is the $24-million Faberge 'Coronation Egg' (see picture).
Its surface is enamelled translucent yellow with bands of laurel made of gold. Opaque, black-enamelled Imperial eagles appear where the bands intersect. Each eagle has a small diamond on its chest.
The Easter surprise within this egg is a miniature coronation coach. The coach frame is gold, the wheels are platinum, and the windows are crystal. An Imperial crown with rose diamonds surmounts the coach.
Photo: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images