Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Red Cross Fabergé Easter Egg from World War I


Designed to honor of the members of the Russian Imperial family serving as nurses during the war: Nicholas's sister Olga, his daughter Olga, the Empress, his daughter Tatiana, and his first cousin Maria.
The fold-up album was sized to fit within the egg.

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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 9:17 AM

    Is this piece in a museum now? I'm aware of the Tsar's involvement in the war effort as the "Little Colonel"; did the ladies do their nursing work in Petrograd, how active were they, only treat the nobility, or the average dog face too?

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  2. UnknownApril 17, 2014 at 10:33 AM

    Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Cross_with_Imperial_Portraits This egg is now at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Nicholas II's mother was in the Red Cross in the 1877 Russo-Turkish war and was president of the Red Cross (in the empire, I am guessing) from 1894 until her death in 1928. She was a Danish princess and returned to Denmark at the start of the Revolution.

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  3. KimballApril 17, 2014 at 11:52 AM

    The Empress and the Grand Duchesses served as nurses in Petrograd. I'm inspired by your question to look more into their service in specific. I doubt very much that they were segregated into nursing only the nobility, as that would have played poorly in the public sphere. Also, I believe they as a family were truly moved by the sacrifices of the masses in the war and would certainly want to do what little they could to help even a few wounded soldiers. The nobility had plenty of other options; the frontline private had basically none. Thank you for jogging me to look further.

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  4. AnonymousMay 10, 2014 at 12:41 PM

    I have been traveling on an ocean liner, and have been incommunicado, hence the late reply. Lo and behold during the voyage I came upon a presentation of Fabrege eggs by the onboard jewelry shop just itching to sell them. Not surprisingly not on the scale presented to the Russian Imperial Court; in fact they were in my opinion rather blasé, with a banal one theme opening, catering to those with a lot of money that don't know what to do with it. I appreciate the real McCoy and have learned that I can take joy in beauty without needing to possess it.

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