The £10 million egg

A rare chance to buy a 19th century Faberge egg will come about next month.

The translucent pink egg was made as a gift for the Rothschild family in 1902. It comes with a clock and has never been seen in public.

The eggs became a symbol of opulence because the Russian Tsar Alexander III had one made every year from 1885. Only 50 were made and just 12 are thought to survive.

When this egg goes on sale next month, it is expected to set the new owner back £9.5 million.

Anthony Phillips, an expert from the auctioneers Christie's, said: "I think quite extraordinary is there are only two other known Faberge clocks, or eggs, that have a clock in them and also an automaton, so when the clock strikes the hour the cockerel comes out at the top, flaps its diamond-studded wings, shakes its neck and sings.

"There have been two or three in the last ten 15 years at auction, but to find one that has never been published, never actually been seen or exhibited is an extraordinary discovery I think."

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