This easily overlooked private museum houses a collection of 16 Fabergé eggs, including 10 Imperial Eggs: (① 1885 Hen Egg, the first of the 50 Tsar's eggs, ② 1894 Renaissance Egg, the tenth egg, ③ 1895 Rosebud Egg, the twelfth egg, ④ 1897 Lilac Miniature Portrait Egg, the fifteenth egg, ⑤ 1897 Coronation Egg, the sixteenth egg, ⑥ 1898 Pelican Egg, the eighteenth egg, ⑦ 1900 Cuckoo Egg, the twenty-first egg, ⑧ 1911 Bay Tree Egg, also known as the Orange Tree Egg, the thirty-ninth egg, ⑨ 1911 Fifteenth Anniversary Egg, the fortieth egg, ⑩ 1916 Order of St. George Egg, the forty-ninth egg), 2 Kelch Eggs (Hen Egg—1898 and Cockerel Clock Egg—1904), 3 Eggs of 'Imperial quality' (Resurrection Egg—1885-1889, Duchess of Marlborough Egg—1902, Spring Flowers Egg—1899-1903), and a single Scandinavian Egg/Patriot Egg (1899-1903). The exquisite craftsmanship of these eggs rivals, if not surpasses, that of the Kremlin. An entire hall is dedicated to these eggs! The museum also houses other beautiful Fabergé jewelry and paintings from that era. The museum's interior is luxuriously elegant, and it is less crowded, making it a hidden gem and a delightful surprise in Russia. P.S. The museum also has a shop with a wide variety of eggs, including unique egg-related souvenirs, postcards, calendar cards, books, and more. The museum tickets feature different egg designs, each one unique.
The Kremlin houses a collection of 10 Fabergé Tsar Eggs: (① The 7th Egg: Memory of Azov Egg (1891), ② The 20th Egg: Lilies of the Valley Clock Egg (1899), ③ The 22nd Egg: Trans-Siberian Railway Egg (1900), ④ The 26th Egg: Clover Egg (1902), ⑤ The 30th Egg: Moscow Kremlin Egg (1906), ⑥ The 34th Egg: Alexander Palace Egg (1908), ⑦ The 36th Egg: Standart Yacht Egg (1909), ⑧ The 37th Egg: Alexander III Equestrian Egg (1910), ⑨ The 44th Egg: Romanov Tercentenary Egg (1903), ⑩ The 50th Egg: Steel Military Egg (1916)). It is the most well-known collection of Fabergé eggs. The eggs are displayed in a showcase near the entrance of the European Silverware Exhibition Hall, attracting large crowds year-round. The eggs are relatively old and are displayed together, which might not be as enjoyable to view individually, but seeing a row of them at once is still quite impressive! Additionally, the other exhibits in the Armory and the Diamond Fund are also must-sees, showcasing royal luxury!
In an inconspicuous display case, there is a solitary egg, the 1917 Birch Egg, which was a gift from Nicholas II to Maria Feodorovna. Although it now has a simple birch shell, it is said that the egg was originally made of gold, gems, and Karelian birch. Inside the egg, there was a miniature elephant made of gold, silver, 8 large diamonds, and 61 small diamonds. Unfortunately, the original luxury has been lost. However, the museum still houses many other exquisite exhibits that are very impressive!
There are actually no egg collections in Tsarskoye Selo, but throughout almost the entire St. Petersburg, the place with the most variety and cost-effective egg replicas is the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. Generally, if you want to buy egg souvenirs, the most reputable manufacturer is AKM. This company produces eggs made by the Fabergé factory, and they are really lifelike. Moreover, there are various colors and specifications to choose from. The souvenir shop in the Catherine Palace almost has all AKM products. Although the prices are relatively high, it's still great just to take a look!
House of Books in Saint Petersburg
The House of Books is basically the most comprehensive place to buy well-made Saint Petersburg souvenirs. It has a large number of very beautiful fridge magnets, postcards, chocolates (it is said that there are now ones with Putin's image), and of course, there is a special area selling Easter eggs. The variety is quite complete, the prices are moderate, and the products are absolutely genuine, better made than those in the churches.
