Egg on Stand with Easel and Photograph of Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaievich
Alexander Edward Tillander (Russian, 1837–1918)
c. 1890–1896
Medium
gold, enamel, sapphire, gold easel and stand, paper, faceted green glass
Classification
Miscellaneous
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The India Early Minshall Collection
Accession Number
1966.435
Tags
male
About this artwork
In the Russian Orthodox religious tradition, eggs are offered as Easter gifts to symbolize rebirth, renewal, and the resurrection of Christ. This jeweled Russian egg is engraved with XB symbolizing the phrase, “Christ is risen,” and would have been given to a lady in a wealthy household, perhaps someone of high rank within the imperial court, given the richness of materials.