When Peter Carl Faberge's eggs came to India

New Delhi: A set of six ornate eggs pay tribute to the master Russian jeweller Peter Carl Faberge on the Google home page on the occasion of his 166th birth anniversary. The Easter eggs on the Google doodle have been inspired by the designs of actual Faberge eggs. These eggs were the prized possessions of the Romanov Dynasty. (Read: Google doodles eggs for Peter Carl Faberge's 166th birthday).

About three-and-a-half years ago nine of these world famous eggs were in India and were on display at New Delhi's National Museum from late December 2008 to mid-January 2009. The nine Imperial Easter Eggs were valued at $26 million and included the much-celebrated Coronation Easter Egg from 1897. [Images]

Bringing the Faberge eggs to India was the result of a two-year-long effort by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and was a part of the activities to mark the Year of Indo-Russian Friendship.

About three-and-a-half years ago nine of these world famous Peter Carl Faberge eggs were in India.

These valuable objects were brought to India from museums in St. Petersburg, Moscow and London with the help of The Link of Times Foundation. The high value of the artifacts also meant that the organisers had to ensure strict security as well as insurance cover for the exhibition.

The Russian royal family had the tradition of presenting Easter gifts. Fabergé made his first Easter egg for Czar Alexander III in 1885 which the Czar gifted to his Danish wife Empress Maria Feodorovna. The first Feberge Imperial Easter Egg contained a jewelled hen.

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