1900 Pine Cone Royal Russian Egg

The Pine Cone egg is a jeweled enameled Easter egg made under the supervision of the Russian jeweler Peter Carl by workmaster Mikhail Perkhin in 1900. One end of the pine cone, a symbol of resurrection, is set with four diamonds, forming a quatrefoil enclosing the date “1900”. The opposite end is set with a diamond star, enclosing a portrait diamond over a later miniature of a young woman. The eggshell opens to reveal a surprise, an Indian elephant. When wound with the original gold key, the tiny elephant, lumbers forward, shifting its weight from one side to the other, all the while turning its head and flicking its tail.  Ownership: The pre-sale estimate was $3 to 4.5 million.