A one inch egg that is a replica of its namesake Egg and, amazingly, is filled with all of the detail that the original large Egg has. It stands on a base of Siberian Jade with a stairstep platform surmounted by three Romanov griffins carrying shields and swords. They support the Egg on their backs for display purposes.

The Egg itself is divided into three parts: the central section in silver is a map of Russia, illustrating the route of the Trans-Siberian Railway (it bears the inscription, "The Grand Siberian Railway in 1900." The print is so small that I can't read it even using a magnifying glass!). The upper and lower portions of the Egg are in deep green enamel guilloché with touches of red and blue enamel. Astride the lid is an heraldic three sided eagle with the Imperial Crown on its head and the base of the Egg has a cabachon jewel in it.

Inside the Egg, sitting on a convergence of railway tracks, is the most remarkable duplication of a railroad train circa 1900. The model is 9/16ths of an inch long and clearly shows the engine, the crew car and the passenger car. When not being worn, sitting on its stand, it is 2.75 inches high. All of the metal decor is gold plated sterling silver and the stones are Austrian crystals.

Presented for Easter, 1900, by Tsar Nicholas II to his wife, the Tsarina Alexandra Fedorovna, Nicholas laid the cornerstone for the eastern terminus of the railroad when he was heir to the throne.

Retail: $500.00. Our price: $449.90.