Photo of collection object Egg — Alexander Edward Tillander. Egg, before 1896. gold, enamel, sapphire, gold easel and stand, photograph covered with faceted green glass, Diameter: 5.6 x 3.9 cm (2 3/16 x 1 9/16 in.). The India Early Minshall Collection, 1966.435.a. CC0.

Egg

before 1896

Alexander Edward Tillander

Alexander Edward Tillander (Russian, 1837–1918)

Decorative Art and Design

Egg, before 1896. Alexander Edward Tillander (Russian, 1837–1918). Gold, enamel, sapphire, gold easel and stand, photograph covered with faceted green glass; diameter: 5.6 x 3.9 cm (2 3/16 x 1 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The India Early Minshall Collection 1966.435.a In the Russian Orthodox religious tradition, eggs are offered as Easter gifts to symbolize rebirth, renewal, and the resurrection of Christ. This jeweled Russian egg is engraved with XB symbolizing the phrase, “Christ is risen,” and would have been given to a lady in a wealthy household, perhaps someone of high rank within the imperial court, given the richness of materials.

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Alexander Edward Tillander
Classification: Miscellaneous
Formatted Medium: gold, enamel, sapphire, gold easel and stand, photograph covered with faceted green glass
Medium: gold, enamel, sapphire, easel, stand, photograph, covered, faceted, green, glass
Dimensions: Diameter: 5.6 x 3.9 cm (2 3/16 x 1 9/16 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: engraved beneath the enamel of the top are the Cyrillic letters "XB" [in monogram] which signify the phrase, "Christ is risen."
Departments: Decorative Art and Design
Accession Number: 1966.435.a
Credit Line: The India Early Minshall Collection
Rights Statement: CC0