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The egg is one of the oldest symbols of  “new life, rebirth and love” to be handed down to us from antiquity. The “egg” as a universal symbol, transcends many races, creed and culture.

Eggs were used in the ASpring rites of the ancient Persians. Red eggs announced a male birth in ancient China. The ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians used the “egg” as a symbol of the cosmic force” or “spit of life.” An egg next to a name in hieroglyphics meant that the person was alive at the time of the writing.

The early Christian Church primarily adopted adopted the “egg” from its Near Eastern environment as a sign of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. St. Augustine is the first Christian writer to use the originally pagan symbol as the sign of Christ’s resurrection.

Although the egg was originally in Western Christianity, it was the Eastern Church that developed the traditions of presenting and exchanging eggs. Russia recieved Christianity from the Imperial Byzantine Church in Constantinople. The Eastern Orthodox Church traditionally distributed “red” dyed eggs after the Pascha (Easter) Liturgy with the traditional greeting “Christ Is Risen!” and the reply is “Indeed He Is Risen!” with three kisses exchanged on alternating cheeks. 

Originally “natural” color eggs were exchanged. Around the 13th Century eggs were dyed with colors from roots and onion skins. Natural and wooden eggs were gaily decorated with pre-Christian and Christian folk figures, symbols and scenes commoon to the people of Rus (the early name for the people of Russia and the Ukraine). Many of these same designs wre stylized and used in creations from the famous jewel workshops of St. Petersburg.

The miniature eggs first appeared in the Russian Court in the 18th Century. Faberge, based many of his first eggs on those in the Treasury of the Hermitage, made the miniature egg  popular. Faberge’s eggs and those of Russian jewelers of the period are very imaginative and diverse. They range from the effective use of gold to silver, purpurine, man-made hardstone, guilloche enamel and precious stones to the finest examples of Russian painted enamel. Also egg shaped charms from enamel, stones and diamonds were created in the form of animals, baskets with flowers or chicks, insects, helmets and crowns.

The Imperial Court began the custom of exchanging miniature eggs in precious metals and native stones. The larger presentation eggs were given at Court in Russia as was the custom of many European royal houses. Often the miniature eggs presented at Court employed the same theme as the larger presentation eggs. The merchants and upper-classes quickly aopted the custom of giving and exchanging the miniature eggs.

The miniature eggs were generally available in “open” stock at 24 Morskaya Street (Faberge’s St. Petersburg address) and at most enamel and silver shops in Russia.

Miniature eggs or baubles were commissioned to commorate special eventas at Court, for example, the Coronation and the alliance with Great Britain.

In Russian society is was customary to collect thes “eggs” from admirers, relatives or friends and worn on necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Some necklaces had as many as 100 eggs on them. Ladies would exchange eggs with family and friends. These collections are ancestors of the “add a bead” or charm bracelet idea long before its time. The eggs were spaced on a necklace so they would not touch. It made no difference what “colors” or subject matter were used, all were combined. Even men would sometimes where an egg on their lapels.

Imagination, restrained luxury and fine material are the hallmark of the collectable miniature egg.