1073 - Russian Easter egg on stand, silver 84 zolotniki, double eagle, child on straw bed, dated 1867

Russian Easter egg on stand, silver 84 zolotniki, double eagle, child on straw bed, dated 1867 Silver 84 zolotniki (875 silver), Russian Easter egg on stand, dated 1867, hallmarked on the upper half of the egg and on the insert plate of the lower half with the fineness mark "84", the assay mark (not identified) "А·К" above the date "1867" and an indistinct town mark, egg-shaped body divisible in the middle with engraved zigzag and lozenge decoration, stylised leaf motifs and band motif, applied relief double-headed eagles in lozenge fields, at the rim of the upper half an encircling band of oval cartouches, inside a round plain plate with a fully sculptural figure of a reclining child on a bed of silver straws, holding a faceted ruby, probably synthetic, in its hands, dark stand with curved volute feet and foliage at the base. Condition commensurate with age. Egg D. 4.5 cm, H. 6.5 cm, total height with stand 11.5 cm, egg weight 81 g. The egg with divisible body stands in the Russian Easter tradition, in which eggs were exchanged at Easter as a symbol of rebirth and new life; precious eggs open into two halves and conceal a surprise inside. In Christian iconography the egg is a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ: the closed shell appears lifeless, new life grows from its interior, and the opening of the shell is compared with the empty tomb on Easter morning; in the Eastern Church Easter eggs were predominantly dyed red as a reference to the blood of the risen Christ. In images of the Virgin Mary the egg also appears as an allusion to the conception and incarnation of Christ. The reclining child on the straw bed inside corresponds to the pictorial type of the Christ Child in the manger; the egg thus links the birth of the Redeemer with the Resurrection, and the red stone in the child's hands takes up the colour of the Russian Easter egg. The fineness mark 84 denotes 84 zolotniki of fine silver on the 96-part Russian scale, which corresponds to approximately 875/1000. The applied double-headed eagle is the state coat of arms of the Russian Empire; it is documented since the end of the 15th century under Ivan III and in the 19th century was borne as a crowned black double-headed eagle with the breast shield of Saint George. Silver Easter eggs on stands are also referred to as ornamental eggs or silver eggs.