"The last two czars of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for centuries, commissioned the House of Fabergé to create elaborate Easter gifts. These became known as the Imperial Easter Eggs, and only around 50 were made. Seven are believed lost since the Russian Revolution, and just six remain in private hands. The Winter Egg offers one of those rare chances to acquire an Imperial piece."
"The lot coming to Sotheby's is Francois-Xavier Lalanne's only hippopotamus-shaped bar made of copper. The late oil heiress Anne Schlumberger was one of Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne's first patrons, and commissioned this bar from Francois-Xavier in the mid-1970s. The hippopotamus would go on to become one of his most familiar shapes, appearing in bathtubs and even a bidet."
The Winter Egg, designed by Alma Theresia Pihl, commemorates the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and is carved from rock crystal with diamond-set platinum snowflakes. The interior contains a platinum basket with quartz flowers and green demantoid garnet leaves. Christie's estimates exceed £20 million and notes its Imperial provenance and rarity, with only around 50 Imperial eggs made and six remaining in private hands. François-Xavier Lalanne's unique copper hippopotamus bar was commissioned by Anne Schlumberger in the mid-1970s and features a revolving bottle rack, glass storage, an ice bucket and a serving tray. The Lalanne lot, accompanied by two preparatory drawings, is estimated at more than $7 million at Sotheby's.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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