Orange Tree Egg
Cat. no. 286
Presumably St. Petersburg, 1911
Nephrite, gold, enamel, diamonds, citrines, amethysts, rubies, pearls, agate, feathers
The Forbes Magazine Collection, New York

The Romanov court avidly imitated French fashions of every type. This elegant object was inspired by earlier French music boxes in the shape of orange trees. The surprise concealed within this tree is a little mechanical bird, covered in real feathers. On Easter morning in 1911, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna turned the correct gemstone "fruit" and the little bird emerged singing. He also sang for collectors in England and Switzerland before Malcolm Forbes added this imperial egg to his collection.

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