Lapis Lazuli Easter Egg
Gold, enamel, lapis lazuli, pearls, diamonds, and rubies; 5.9 x 4.5 cm
attributed to Peter Carl Fabergé, c. 1885–90
Cleveland Museum of Art

Crafted from lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone known for its deep blue hue, this egg has a smooth and polished surface, decorated only by bands of gold encircling the two halves of the egg horizontally. The bands are set in rows of pearls, and two teardrop-shaped thumb latches are featured in the centre, one set with a diamond and the other, a ruby. The white interior is designed in the form of an egg cut in two, and a compartment resembling an egg yolk holds the surprise. This is a miniature replica of the imperial crown set with diamonds and rubies, which in turn holds a tiny ruby or pink sapphire on a chain. In 2022, these surprises were identified as those originally belonging to the Imperial Rosebud Egg. It has been suggested that the Lapis Lazuli Egg is not an authentic Fabergé work, but was created later to house these surprises.