Egg-Stamp (Fabergé egg)

The Egg-Stamp is a seal in the form of a minature jeweled Easter egg, created by Michael Perkhin under the auspices of Peter Carl Fabergé in 1895, for Vasily Denisov.

Description
The impression of the seal is the coat of arms of the Denisov Cossacks, descendants of Vasily Denisov, Captain of Horse Guards. General armorial of imperial Russia. Part XVIII, No. 4. The die is engraved on the underside of what would be the stand supporting the egg in a full-sized example; the three legs of the "stand" are cherubs, each adorned with a ruby cabochon on its chess. The egg itself is of bowenite topped with one large diamond. The upper part of the egg is encircled by a rose gold garland featuring six rubies and eighteen diamonds.

History
The egg-stamp was manufactured for Vasily Denisov, as his personal stamp. Peculiarity of the subject is in its historical, artistic and scientific unprecedented and unique. The level of work is worthy only of the imperial collection. The first bavenite Imperial egg with a diamond "net" in platinum was carried out in 1892.

Putti – Cherubim (winged boys, favorite motive of the Italian Baroque) are present in the Imperial Easter Egg of 1888 and in the famous Clock for the Silver wedding of Emperor Alexander and Empress Maria Feodorovna, execute by Faberge company and master Mikhail Perkhin in 1891, upon the project of the court architect Leontius Benois. The quality of the execution of the Cherubs, the elaboration of details, incusing and engraving – at the ideal level. Stamps for individuals were seldom executed on an individual commission, most of the stamps made by Faberge company for members of the Imperial Family. The cost of engraving was fathomless higher than the cost of the material. There are job prices: the cost of an agate matrix is 3 roubles, engraving of a stamps – 50 roubles.

Even in the Faberge firm of master engravers of the highest qualification there were only a few people.

The stamp in Petrograd was obtained by a Finnish enterpriser, a grain bargainer and transported to Finland by its owner during the October Revolution of 1917. The family is in possession of the subject until 1989. In 1995, the grandson of the Finnish entrepreneur bequeathed the Egg-seal to his sisters. In 1995, the grandson of the Finnish enterpriser bequeathed the Egg-stamp to his sisters. In the will it is indicated that the coat of arms depicted on the stamp belonged to Duke Rakhlin-Rumiantsev, who was once Russia's ambassador to Sweden.

However, the idea that the Egg-stamp belonged to Duke Rakhlin-Rumyantsev, and presumably his coat of arms was engraved on the bottom (as was indicated in the will) during the research, was refuted, since in history there is no mention of a certain prince Rakhlin-Rumyantsev. Confusion, probably, arose as a result of the personal tragedy of Vasily Denisov. One of the sons fled the house, stealing diamonds and jewelry worth at the cost of two hundred thousand rubles. It is in contemplation that the egg was sold under false name, in order to hide the son's involvement.

Stamp
The stamp- is the mark "M.P" (After 1895, the point in the middle, in the oval: Mikhail Perkhin). The stamp -a double for the St. Petersburg Assay department 1895-Dec. 1898 years. with the designation of purity of gold "56" in the spool measurement, which corresponds to the 583rd metric purity and the coat of arms of St. Petersburg ("anchors").

Owners
After the Vasily Denisov's loss of the stamp, it was obtained by a Finnish enterpriser in Petrograd, a grain bargainer and taken to Finland by its owner during the Russian Revolution of 1917. The family possessed the subject until 1989. It was at the auction by the Bukovskys (Helsinki) in 1981 (not sold), in 1989 the stamp was estimated by the expert of the Auction House "Christie" Mr. A. de Tiesenhausen, who confirmed the identity of the object and its affiliation to Faberge company.