View source for Memory of Azov (Fabergé egg)

{{short description|1891 Imperial Fabergé egg}}
{{Infobox Fabergé egg
| name                  = Memory of Azov
| image                 = Memory of Azov Egg.jpg
| caption               = Memory of Azov Egg
| year_delivered        = 1891
| made_for              =[[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]]
|recipient=[[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Maria Feodorovna]]
| owner                 =[[Kremlin Armoury]], Moscow
| acquisition_year      =
| workmaster            = [[Michael Perkhin]] and [[Yuri Nicolai]] 
| materials             = [[Heliotrope (mineral)|Bloodstone]], [[ruby]], [[diamond]]s, [[gold]], [[platinum]], [[Aquamarine (gemstone)|aquamarine]]
| height                = {{convert|93|mm|in}}
| width                 =
| surprise_in_egg       = Replica cruiser ''[[Pamiat Azova]]''
}}

The '''Memory of Azov''' (or the '''Azova Egg''') is a [[Faberge egg|jewelled Easter egg]] made under the supervision of the [[Russians|Russian]] jeweller [[Peter Carl Fabergé]] in 1891 for [[Tsar of Russia|Tsar]] [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]] of Russia. It was presented by Alexander III as an Easter gift to his wife, the Tsarina [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Maria Feodorovna]]. It is currently held in the [[Kremlin Armoury]] Museum in Moscow.

== Design ==
Carved from a solid piece of [[Heliotrope (mineral)|heliotrope]] [[jasper]], also known as bloodstone, the Memory of Azov Egg is decorated in the [[Louis XV style]] with a superimposed gold pattern of [[Rococo]] scrolls with brilliant [[diamonds]] and chased gold flowers. The broad flute gold bezel is set with a drop [[ruby]] and two [[diamond]]s that complete the clasp. The egg's interior is lined with green [[velvet]].<ref name="wintraecken.nl">{{cite web|url=http://www.wintraecken.nl/mieks/faberge/eggs/1891_Memory_of_Azov_Egg.htm|title=Mieks Fabergé Eggs|website=www.wintraecken.nl}}</ref>

The design of the piece is based on the egg-shaped ''bonbonnières'' in the Rococo style.

== Surprise ==
The surprise contained within is a miniature replica of the [[Imperial Russian Navy]] [[cruiser]] ''[[Pamiat Azova]]'' (Memory of Azov), executed in red and yellow [[gold]] and [[platinum]] with small diamonds for windows, set on a piece of [[Beryl#Aquamarine and maxixe|aquamarine]] representing the water. The name "Azov" appears on the ship's stern. The plate has a golden frame with a loop, enabling the model to be removed from the egg.<ref name="wintraecken.nl" />

== History ==

{{details|Eastern journey of Nicholas II}}
The egg commemorates the voyage made by [[Tsarevitch]] [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas]] and [[Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia|Grand Duke George]] of Russia aboard the ''Pamiat Azova'' to the Far East in 1890. The trip was made after a suggestion by their parents to broaden the outlook of the future Tsar and his brother. At the time, Grand Duke George was suffering from [[tuberculosis]], and the voyage only exacerbated it. Tsarevitch Nicholas was also the victim of an attempted assassination ("[[Ōtsu incident]]") whilst in Japan and sustained a serious head wound. Although the Tsarina was presented with the egg before these events occurred, it apparently was never one of her favourite eggs.<ref name="wintraecken.nl" />

== See also ==
*[[Egg decorating]]

== References ==
{{ref list}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite book|last=Faber|first= Toby|title=Faberge's Eggs: The Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire|publisher= Random House|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4000-6550-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NphmiWCLxogC}}
*{{Cite book|authorlink=Christopher Forbes|last1=Forbes|first1= Christopher|first2=Johann Georg|last2= Prinz von Hohenzollern|title=FABERGE; The Imperial Eggs|publisher=Prestel|year=1990| asin= B000YA9GOM}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lowes |first=Will|title=Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia |publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2001|isbn=0-8108-3946-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uvh3MQNvT00C}}
*{{Cite book|authorlink=Kenneth Snowman|last=Snowman |first=A Kenneth|title=Carl Faberge: Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia|publisher=Gramercy|year=1988|isbn=0-517-40502-4}}

== External links ==
{{Commons Category}}
*[http://www.wintraecken.nl/mieks/faberge/eggs/1891_Memory_of_Azov_Egg.htm Description at wintraecken.nl]

{{Fabergé egg}}

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[[Category:Imperial Fabergé eggs]]
[[Category:1891 works]]
[[Category:Fabergé in the Moscow Kremlin Museums]]