Pelican

The Pelican egg is an ornately crafted object made of red gold with diamonds and vitreous enamel, standing about 10 centimeters tall and topped by a pelican figure. Inside are eight interconnected oval frames, each containing a hand-painted miniature scene on ivory.

This egg was created in 1898 by master jeweler Michael Perkhin as a gift from Tsar Nicholas II to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Its creation was part of a long tradition of royal gifts that showcased the artistic excellence of the Fabergé workshop.

The pelican figure at the top symbolizes maternal care and generosity, a meaning reinforced by the eight hand-painted oval miniatures created by Danish artists. These paintings depict institutions supported by the Dowager Empress and reflect her role as a patron of charitable works.

The egg is displayed in a climate-controlled gallery space at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, where visitors can view it from a safe distance. Since it is a delicate historical object, it is protected behind glass and cannot be touched.

The eight miniatures inside depict specific favorite institutions of the Dowager Empress, making this gift a personal tribute to her charitable work. Each oval painting was created individually, showing the considerable hand-painted effort invested in this royal commission.