The egg was unveiled Tuesday at Rolls-Royce headquarters in Goodwood, West Sussex, England (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Exquisite and exclusive are the defining tenets of both Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Fabergé. It is no surprise then that a commissioned collaboration between the world’s two most exceptional luxury houses has resulted in a precious objet d’art that would, like its predecessors, beguile kings and queens with its imaginative splendour.
The new “Spirit of Ecstasy” Fabergé Egg sees an iteration of the eponymous mascot that has adorned Rolls-Royce cars since 1911 cocooned in a contemporary Egg, designed by key visionaries of both houses. Fabergé workmaster Paul Jones realised their ingenious vision by creating this interpretation of one of the world’s most fabled and prized possessions.
It took seven craftspeople to fashion the 160mm Egg, which rests on an engine-turned, hand-engraved, purple enamel guilloche-decorated 18-carat white gold base. Rose gold arms stretch out to act as a protective chamber for the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, hand-sculpted from frosted rock crystal. Almost 10 carats of round white diamonds embellish the rose gold vanes while swathes of natural amethyst, weighing over 390 carats, are a nod to the rich colours prevalent in Fabergé’s heritage.
A discreet lever on the stand operates the theatrical production that sees the boughs open for the figurine to rise from the base, a feat of technical mastery that secures this as one of the most complicated openings of a Fabergé Egg. Before it is delivered to its private owner, this pinnacle of ornamental expression will be on public display in Fabergé’s London boutique window throughout Christmas.
