£10 million egg goes under the hammer

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 bears an intricate clock face and contains an automaton diamond-set cockerel which pops up from inside the egg every hour, flaps its wings four times, nods its head and crows.

It has never been seen in public.

Faberge 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 Philips, International Director of Silver and Russian Works of Art at Christie's, said: "The discovery of this masterpiece is the most exciting of my 40-year career.

"Although few examples exist, the Faberge Egg is known around the world as one of the most impressive and exclusive works of art ever made.

"The Rothschild Faberge Egg encapsulates every characteristic that defines a true masterpiece: authorship, craftsmanship, provenance, condition and rarity. We expect this remarkable object to be of profound interest to private collectors and institutions from around the world."

The sale is likely to attract keen interest from London's Russian billionaires.

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