Created by the Fabergé workshop in St. Petersburg in 1907, the Yusupov Egg was presented by Prince Felix Yusupov to his wife, Zinaďda, on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary.

His son, the young Prince Felix, and a group of conspirators on December 16, 1916, in what was then considered to be a patriotic act, murdered Grigori Rasputin, the monk who played a key role in the downfall of the Romanov imperial dynasty.

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We returned once again to the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, legendary heiress of General Foods, diplomat, philanthropist and distinguished collector of French and Russian art and jewelry. We wanted to see a Fabergé exhibit going on there and also enjoyed walking through the grounds and hothouse to and from.

More magenta pods, posted earlier: