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Keyl reported in a letter that he had learned from Sir Edwin Landseer that 'The Queen was quite delighted with my Lambs brought them herself with her own hands into his bedroom – thought it quite Preraphaelite'. Signed and dated: F.W. Keyl / 1868.
Easter in the Royal Collection

Explore Easter imagery in the Royal Collection

Fabergé

Basket of flowers egg 1901

Silver, parcel-gilt, gold, guilloché enamel, diamonds | 23.0 x 10.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 40098

Faberge's Mosaic Easter egg

Fabergé, The Mosaic Egg (RCIN 9022) ©

Easter is traditionally the most important celebration in the Russian Orthodox calendar. Hand-dyed hen’s eggs would be brought to church and blessed and presented to family and friends. By the late nineteenth century, this practice evolved amongst the St Petersburg aristocracy into the exchange of costly gifts.

The most famous and expensive Easter Eggs in the world are the Easter eggs, made by Carl Fabergé for the last two Emperors of Russia to give to their consorts on Easter Day. The first Fabergé Easter egg was commissioned by Emperor Alexander III in 1885, as a present for his consort, Marie Feodorovna. It became the first in a series of fifty produced by Faberge for the Russian imperial family between 1885 and 1916. Each egg is completely unique and many contain surprises.

Find out more about Fabergé surprises with this short film:

A Fabergé Surprise ©

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