Standing on split leaf acanthus feet the Egg rises to a height of 7 inches. Made in France of Limoges porcelain in a vibrant deep blue with encrustations of 24 karat gold as dividers creating 6 segments on both the upper and lower portions of the Egg. Each segment presents a ballerina in a classic position. The Egg opens to reveal 3 dancing ballerinas dressed in delicately colored tutus, individually posed and all revolve as the music plays. The figures stand on a 24 karat gold plated plinth with a jeweled ball in the center. The underside of the Egg houses the turnkey for the music box which plays "Dancing Ballerina Waltz" by Strauss, Limited Edition.

Retail: $4000.00. Our price: $3599.99.

In actual fact, the Ballet Russe was not founded until 1932 and it's home was Monte Carlo. The most prominent ballet company in Russia during the time of Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II was the Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg. Originally the Imperial Russian Ballet, when it moved to the Mariinsky Theater the name was changed and it became the Mariinsky Ballet with members of the corps being such renowned dancers as Marie Taglioni, Olga Preobrajenska, Mathilde Kschessinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, Michel Fokine, George Balanchine, and Maria Danilova.

Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky went on to be principle dancers for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Georges Balanchine ultimately became a founder and Director of the New York City Ballet and was until his death the leading classical choreographer in the United States in the 20th century. In 1920 Mathilde Kschessinskaya, the prima ballerina of the company, fled Russia via Turkey and Italy finally arriving in Paris where she lived with her husband and son and taught ballet.