Eggs are one of the most ancient types of human food.

They are included in the sacred symbolism, myths, fairy tales and sayings of most peoples of the world and in many cultures are a symbol of life.

This is a valuable food product containing almost everything, except for vitamin C, vital substances for a person: vitamins A, D, E, H, K, PP and group B, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, fluorine, manganese, iodine.

At the same time, it is also a low-calorie food: in one average instance, there are about 75 calories. They perfectly combine proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, while one piece can contain up to 14% of the daily protein requirement.
Eggs are the only type of food that is 97% digestible, which is why (and also due to the richest composition) the yolk is one of the first to be introduced into baby food.

How to know if an egg is fresh and why an egg floats in water; does the chick breathe in the egg; what is the danger of raw eggs; at what temperature does salmonella die; how to cook and store chicken eggs; Can eggs be stored in the freezer? why there are two yolks in an egg, as well as other interesting facts about eggs.

1. What does a chicken egg consist of?
The formed egg consists of protein, yolk, shell and membranes. In a chicken egg, 10-12% of the mass is the shell, 56-61% is the protein and 27-32% is the yolk. In the liquid content of an egg without a shell, the protein accounts for approximately 64%, and the yolk - 36%.

2. What is an eggshell made of?
According to studies by Hungarian doctors, it has been proven that the egg shell is 90% calcium carbonate (calcium carbonate). In addition, the shell also contains magnesium (0.55%), phosphorus (0.25%), silicon (0.12%), potassium (0.08%), sodium (0.03%), copper, iron, sulfur, fluorine, aluminum, manganese, zinc, molybdenum and many other elements (27 in total). Interestingly, the composition of the eggshell is very similar to the composition of human bones and teeth.

Outside, the shell is covered with a layer of dried mucus - the shell membrane, which prevents the evaporation of moisture from the egg and the penetration of microorganisms. Inside there is a shell membrane, which does not allow protein to pass through, delays the penetration of bacteria, but passes air, moisture and ultraviolet rays. And it is followed by an elastic protein film.

3. How does a chicken breathe in an egg through the shell?
The egg breathes through the pores in the shell. At first glance, the shell seems to be dense, but in fact it has a porous, gas-permeable structure. If you look at the surface of the shell through a magnifying glass, you can see many small pores through which air passes for the chicken. Through the pores, oxygen enters the egg, and carbon dioxide and moisture are removed to the outside. The shell of a chicken egg has about 7500 pores! There are more pores on the blunt end of the egg and fewer on the sharp one.

4. What is the thickness of a chicken egg shell?
The thickness of the shell of chicken eggs ranges from 0.3 to 0.4 mm, and it is not the same over the entire surface of the egg. At the sharp end of the egg, the shell is slightly thicker than at the blunt one. It is worth noting that the eggs of the same bird may have different shell thicknesses. The shell is thicker at the start of lay, usually in winter, and thinner from March to September. One of the reasons for the decrease in shell strength is the depletion of calcium reserves in the bird's body by the end of the laying season.

5. What determines the color of an eggshell?
The color of the egg shell depends on the breed of the laying hen. Interestingly, in most cases, hens with white earlobes lay white eggs, while hens with red ears lay brown eggs.

6. Which eggs are better - white or brown?
This question interests many housewives. In fact, there is no difference between brown and white eggs. The color of the shell of chicken eggs does not affect the nutritional value of the egg, its taste and quality. It also has nothing to do with the freshness of the eggs. However, it should be noted that brown eggs have a thicker shell, but blood stains are more common in them. Due to the stronger shell, brown eggs keep a little longer and are easier to transport without damage. Therefore, poultry farmers appreciate them.

7. How can you tell fresh eggs from stale ones?
You need to put the egg in the water. If it is fresh, it will lie at the bottom of the dish in a horizontal position. If the egg is more than one week old, then its blunt end will float up. An egg that hangs vertically in water is 2-3 weeks old, and an egg that floats up is 6-7 weeks old.

8. Why do stale eggs float?
The buoyancy of an egg depends on its freshness. The fact is that at the blunt end of the egg, an air chamber (puga) is gradually formed between the subshell and albuminous membranes. During storage, moisture evaporates from the egg through the pores, contributing to an increase in air space. Therefore, the longer the egg is stored, the more the size of the air chamber increases. That's why you should choose eggs with a matte surface, not a shiny one, when buying - this indicates the degree of their freshness. If the eggs are large but light, they have a large air chamber and are nearing the end of their shelf life. To determine the freshness of an egg in a store, you can shake it. If the contents dangle from side to side, such an egg is already spoiled and cannot be bought.

9. Why are eggs sometimes difficult to shell?
It turns out that it depends on the freshness of the eggs. The content of recently laid eggs adheres more tightly to the shell film, so fresh eggs are more difficult to peel. And if they lie in the refrigerator for a week or two, then after cooking they can be cleaned easier and faster.

10. Why do hard-boiled eggs sometimes have a grey-green yolk?
This happens if, as a rule, a not very fresh egg is boiled for too long or if it is not cooled in time after boiling. In overcooked eggs, the yolk shell becomes greenish. This happens because of the reaction of iron and sulfur, which are contained in eggs. When the eggs are heated, the sulfur from the protein comes into contact with the iron from the yolk and iron sulfide is formed at the junction between them, due to which a gray-green color appears around the yolk. The older the eggs, the faster this happens. Prolonged cooking and high temperatures also speed up this reaction.

11. Can you eat eggs with green yolks?
Yes, these eggs are edible. A greenish color on the yolk shell does not affect the taste of the egg and does not mean that it is spoiled. However, strongly overcooked eggs deteriorate in protein quality, so do not boil them for more than 10 minutes. To avoid greening of the yolk, use fresher eggs and refrigerate them immediately after boiling.

12. Why are there blood stains in chicken eggs?
Sometimes small specks of blood can be seen in the eggs. They appear due to the fact that the blood vessels burst in the laying hen and blood enters the yolk during separation from the ovary. Blood spots are more common in brown eggs. These blood inclusions should not be confused with the embryo. It happens that eggs have a blood ring on the yolk. This means that the embryo began to develop in the egg and the circulatory system of the chicken was formed (if the egg was stored at a high temperature), but the embryo died at an early stage of development.

13. Can you eat eggs with blood stains?
Yes, these eggs are quite suitable for consumption. Blood droplets in the egg do not pose a threat to health and do not affect the taste in any way. But red spots on the surface of the yolk look unappetizing, so it is better to remove them with the tip of a knife before cooking. However, eggs with a blood ring in which the embryo has already begun to form should not be consumed in any form.

14. Which country consumes the most eggs?
Mexico ranks first in the world in terms of egg consumption per capita. According to Mexican experts, each resident of the country eats 21.9 kg of eggs per year, which is an average of one and a half eggs per day. Mexicans eat more eggs daily than in any other country. Japan used to be the world leader in egg consumption per capita. Each inhabitant of this country annually consumes 320 eggs, that is, approximately one egg per day.

15. Why does the yolk stay in one position in the middle of the egg?
The protein of a chicken egg consists of three layers: the outer and inner layers are liquid, and the middle one is denser. The protein around the yolk is denser than under the shell. In this layer, which is located around the yolk, elastic twisted cords are formed on both sides of the yolk between the blunt and sharp ends of the egg. It is these protein cords, the so-called hailstones or chalazes (Chalazae), that hold the yolk in the center of the egg, but do not prevent it from turning around its axis. Chalaza are formed from a dense protein, they can be seen on an egg poured in a saucer. Their ends float freely in the protein - the curl on the blunt side of the egg floats in the surrounding layer of more liquid protein, and the curl on the sharp side of the egg penetrates the denser middle layer of protein.

16. Why is protein sometimes opaque?
The cloudy white color of the protein is due to the presence of a large amount of carbon dioxide CO2 in the egg. A cloudy white is a sign of the freshness of the egg, as carbon dioxide has not yet had time to leave it. In old eggs, this element evaporates through the pores of the shell.

17. What are the yellow and greenish crystals found in egg yolk?
This is riboflavin (lactoflavin or vitamin B2) - one of the most important vitamins. Riboflavin is yellow crystals, poorly soluble in water. Egg yolk is one of the dietary sources of riboflavin. 100 grams of eggs contain 0.3-0.8 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2).

18. Can you eat raw eggs?
No, raw eggs should not be consumed, let alone given to children. They can contain pathogens of many diseases, for example, salmonella bacteria, which cause food poisoning in humans, and sometimes severe forms of salmonellosis with complications. Raw or undercooked eggs, as well as dishes with them (homemade mayonnaise, pudding, some sauces and creams, egg cocktails) are potential sources of infection. Eating soft-boiled eggs or insufficiently fried fried eggs with a runny yolk can lead to unpleasant consequences. On the other hand, hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, or well-done scrambled eggs will not cause salmonellosis or food poisoning. Bacteria can be found both on the shell and inside the egg, so it's important to cook it properly. Heat treatment kills germs. It should be noted that annually in large countries more than 400,000 people become victims of egg poisoning, of which about 200 cases end in death. In addition, raw eggs do not benefit the body, as they are absorbed much worse than boiled ones.

The egg until the moment of laying is a sterile product. And yet, already a few seconds after demolition, having such an impressive shell protection, its contents are affected by environmental microorganisms.
What happens to him?
To begin with, we note that when laid, the egg has a body temperature of the laying hen - 41-42 ° C. Once in the external environment, it cools down to the ambient temperature within two hours, while shrinking in volume. Through numerous tiny pores, which are more numerous at the blunt end of the egg, due to the difference in osmotic pressure, air is drawn into the egg. Together with the contents, the albuginea is also reduced, due to which a bundle is formed between the latter and the shell membranes and an air chamber is created - a pug.
Together with air, household and pathogenic (pathogenic) microflora penetrates into the egg. Here it finds a fertile environment for its development and distribution.
So the purity of raw eggs directly depends on the cleanliness and sufficient air exchange in the house and nests.

20. What are the signs of food poisoning?
The main symptoms of food poisoning are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, headache and dizziness, often fever, severe weakness, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness. In acute poisoning, after 1-2 hours, the temperature rises, severe vomiting and loose stools, dizziness and weakness appear, the pulse quickens, the skin of the face turns white, the color of the lips changes, and with botulism, suffocation and respiratory arrest may occur. Therefore, when such symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance.

21. How to avoid food poisoning when eating eggs?
When buying eggs, check the expiration date. It is better to buy eggs in a store - there is usually a date stamped on the shell. Check that the eggs are not cracked or broken - it is better not to use such eggs. If the egg turned out to be stale or has an unpleasant odor, it must be thrown away immediately and in no case be consumed or given to animals, otherwise severe poisoning can occur. Fresher eggs are less likely to breed Salmonella. A natural defense mechanism inhibits their growth in eggs for 20 days. It is better not to risk and not drink raw eggs, do not cook soft-boiled eggs or fried eggs. Recipes using raw eggs should be avoided.

Bacteria can be both inside the eggs and on the shell, therefore, before cooking, the eggs must be thoroughly washed with hot water (temperature 80 ° C) for at least 7 seconds. The fact is that Salmonella bacteria can get into the egg from the surface of the eggshell when it is broken. In addition, bacteria spread very easily to hands, dishes, tables, other foods and objects, so be sure to wash your hands before and after touching the eggs, and wash everything that touched the eggs after cooking. Wash your hands after cracking a raw egg for cooking. When cooking, never put raw and then cooked foods on the same plate. Even properly cooked food can be contaminated with bacteria if drops or small particles of raw food accidentally get into it. Make sure that the scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs are well fried and do not remain raw. Boil or fry semi-finished products (dumplings, meatballs and others) well. Processing food until cooked through is the only way to kill potentially dangerous bacteria and avoid severe food poisoning.

22. What is the most famous bacterium in eggs?
This is salmonella, which lives in poultry eggs, meat, milk and dairy products. Salmonellosis (or paratyphoid) is an acute intestinal disease caused by various types of Salmonella, a very common form of food poisoning. The main route of Salmonella infection is through food. These bacteria multiply rapidly in foodstuffs (especially when warm), but do not change their taste and appearance. Salmonella accumulate in products of animal origin, tolerate drying, freezing, and survive in water for up to 2 months. They are resistant to smoking, salting, marinades, but quickly destroyed when boiled. The incubation period lasts from 2-6 hours to 2-3 days. Salmonellosis is characterized by damage to the gastrointestinal tract and the development of intoxication and is accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, headache, malaise, and fever. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. Salmonella enteritidis (Salmonella enteritidis) is the most common type of such bacteria in many countries.

23. How many minutes does it take to cook eggs?
Salmonella are very resistant and die only with prolonged heat treatment. They breed at temperatures from +7 to +45°C, and the best temperature for them is +35-37°C. At temperatures below +5°C, the growth of Salmonella stops. At +70-75°C salmonella die within 5-10 minutes, and when boiled instantly. Therefore, only hard-boiled eggs can be completely safe. Eggs should be boiled for 8-10 minutes from the moment the water boils, and scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs should be fried until dry.

24. At what temperature do egg whites and yolks harden?
Protein thickens at +60°C and hardens at +65°C. The yolk begins to thicken at +65°C and becomes hard at +73°C.

25. At what temperature should dishes containing eggs be cooked and stored?
Dishes containing eggs must be heated to a temperature of at least +70°C during cooking in order to kill bacteria. Re-heating food that has been stored for some time should also be at a temperature of at least + 70 ° C. Food should be stored at temperatures either above +60°C or below +10°C. Cooked food should not be stored at room temperature. At +20-40°C every 20 minutes the number of bacteria doubles and the risk of poisoning increases. A favorable environment for the reproduction of microbes is warm and humid. And the cold stops them from growing. Therefore, after eating, the remaining products should be immediately removed in the refrigerator.

26. How to properly store chicken eggs?
Immediately after buying the eggs should be put in the refrigerator. Eggs are recommended to be stored in the coldest place of the refrigerator (closer to the back wall) separately from other products and in special packaging. Although most refrigerators have a dedicated egg compartment on the door, it is wrong to store eggs in the refrigerator door. This is the warmest place, and the refrigerator is often opened and the eggs are exposed to frequent temperature fluctuations.

27. Why is it better to store eggs in a package?
Eggshells have thousands of pores through which odors can enter, as well as bacteria. Therefore, eggs must be kept in special trays and away from products with a strong smell, so they stay fresh longer. In addition, storage in egg trays will avoid the spread of bacteria from eggs to neighboring products.

28. What is the best way to store eggs - sharp or blunt end down?
Eggs are best laid with the pointed end down so that the yolks are centered. In this position, the eggs will be able to “breathe” and keep their freshness longer, since there are more pores at the blunt end through which oxygen enters the egg and carbon dioxide exits. In addition, at the blunt end of the egg there is an air space in which there can be bacteria, and when turned over to the blunt end, they float up and enter the egg.

29. Can eggs be stored in the freezer?
No, you should not store eggs in the freezer - they will freeze there. The ideal temperature for storing eggs is +4°C.

30. How long do eggs keep in the refrigerator?
Fresh eggs keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 weeks from the date of manufacture. It is not recommended to store eggs for more than 6 weeks, even in the refrigerator. Eggs are stored for a long time due to the fact that there is a protective film on their surface. Therefore, it is advisable to wash them immediately before cooking.

31. How long can boiled eggs be stored?
Hard-boiled eggs in the shell can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, but it is best to eat them within 3 days. Boiling destroys the protective film on the shell, which helps the egg to be stored longer. Egg dishes must be stored in the refrigerator. Egg salads are stored for 3-4 days, stuffed eggs - 2-3 days.

32. Can eggs be stored at room temperature?
You can, but it's better not to. Without a refrigerator, eggs spoil very quickly, even in one day at room temperature they lose their freshness. One day of storage of eggs at room temperature is equal to a whole week of storage in the refrigerator.

33. How much does one chicken egg weigh?
The mass of the egg ranges from 35 to 75 grams. The average weight of a chicken egg is 50-55 grams. This means that a dozen medium eggs can weigh 500-550 grams, and a kilogram will be about 20 eggs.

34. How much do egg white and yolk weigh separately?
The weight of the yolk is approximately 1/3 of the weight of the whole egg, and the weight of the albumen is 2/3 of the weight of the egg. That is, in an average egg, the yolk weighs 17 grams, and the egg white weighs 34 grams. And in one kilogram there will be 59 yolks or 30 proteins.

35. What determines the color of the yolk?
The color of the egg yolk - light yellow or bright orange - depends on the nutrition of the chicken. The carotenoids contained in the feed of chickens give the yellow color to the yolk. Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that are yellow, orange, or red in color. They give color to many plants, including vegetables and fruits. The more the chicken eats feed containing carotenoids (corn, alfalfa, grass meal), the brighter the color of the yolk. However, not all carotenoids give color to the yolk. For example, canthaxanthin and lutein impart a golden yellow color to the yolk, while beta-carotene does not affect the color. It should be noted that the color of the yolk does not affect the quality, nutritional value and taste of the egg.

36. What does the marking on eggs mean?
Each egg produced in a poultry farm and sold in a store must be labeled. Eggs are divided into dietary and table. Eggs are considered dietary for the first 7 days after they have been laid. Therefore, it is important to look at the date of manufacture. Such eggs are suitable for diet and baby food. Diet eggs after 7 days of storage are considered table eggs.

The first sign of the marking indicates the permissible shelf life:
- The letter "D" means a dietary egg, which is sold within 7 days.
- The letter "C" means a table egg, such eggs are sold within 25 days.

These periods are valid provided that the eggs are stored at temperatures between 0 and +20°C.

The second character in the marking indicates the category of the egg depending on its weight:
- "B" the highest category - 75 grams or more.
- "O" selected egg - from 65 to 74.9 grams.
- "1" first category - from 55 to 64.9 grams.
- "2" second category - from 45 to 54.9 grams.
- "3" third category - from 35 to 44.9 grams.

If the eggs are sold without any marking at all, you should not risk your health and buy them. Eggs of different categories differ only in weight, and their shell color may be different. In addition, some eggs come with two yolks.

37. And what determines the size of a chicken egg?
The mass and size of eggs depend on various factors. Chief among them is the age of the laying hen. Younger hens are more likely to lay small eggs, while older hens lay larger eggs. At first, the mass of eggs can be 40-50 grams, and by the age of the chicken it increases to 57-65 grams. The size of the eggs also depends on the breed and weight of the laying hen. Chickens weighing below normal lay small eggs. Housing conditions, bird feeding, climate, season of the year and time of day of laying also affect the size of the eggs. For example, in warm weather, hens eat less, which often results in smaller eggs. Although sometimes young hens also carry large eggs or even eggs with two yolks. And it happens that more yolks are found in the egg!

38. Why do chickens lay two-yolk eggs?
According to experts, eggs with two yolks are an anomaly. Double-yolk eggs are produced when two cells mature at the same time and pass through the hen's reproductive system together. Typically, such eggs are laid either by young laying hens that have not yet established reproductive cycles, or by mature birds (about one year old). The largest number of two-yolk eggs are laid by hens in the first weeks of oviposition. The ability of hens to lay two-yolk eggs can be inherited. However, sometimes eggs with two yolks can be a sign of a diseased bird. If hens have problems with ovulation, inflammation of the oviduct, then they can carry eggs with two yolks, no yolk, too small or with various defects. Diseases of the oviduct in chickens can occur due to violations of the conditions of feeding and maintenance of laying hens, dampness and dirt in the room.

Eggs with two yolks are quite rare in nature and are not viable. They never hatch chickens. Previously, such eggs were considered non-standard and processed into egg powder. But then they began to be in demand among buyers, because they do not differ in taste from ordinary ones, but weigh more - 70-80 grams (while selected eggs weigh 65-75 grams). Therefore, chickens are now specially bred at poultry farms, which carry eggs with two yolks. Eggs with two yolks are completely harmless and suitable for consumption.

39. How many eggs does a hen lay in a year?
In one year, a laying hen lays about 220-250 eggs, and some hens lay up to 300 eggs or even more. It takes approximately 24-26 hours for a hen to lay an egg. Half an hour after the hen laid an egg, a new egg begins to form in her body. It has been noticed that white chickens carry an average of 45 more eggs per year than red or dark ones.

40. What determines the egg production of chickens?
The number of eggs obtained from a chicken for a certain period of time, that is, egg production, depends on the breed of the chicken, its age, conditions of keeping, nutrition, health of the bird, and also on hereditary properties and individual characteristics. For example, hens of egg breeds lay 10-12% more eggs than meat-egg hens and almost twice as many as hens of meat breeds. Hens of egg-laying breeds begin to lay their first eggs at the age of 5-6 months. Hens are able to lay eggs for about 10 years. But increased egg production is observed in the first year of laying, during which hens can lay 250-300 eggs. With the age of the bird, egg production decreases by 10-15% per year compared to the first year of laying. Therefore, on industrial farms it is economically profitable to use chickens only during the first year of laying, and on breeding farms - 2-3 years. And in the second or third year, only the best laying hens are left. Typically, a breeding flock consists of 55-60% young hens, 30-35% two-year-olds and 10% three-year-olds. Roosters are used up to 2 years, the most valuable - up to 3 years.

41. What does egg white consist of?
The egg block consists of water (85%), proteins (12-13%), carbohydrates (0.7%), fats (0.3%), glucose, various enzymes, vitamins of group B. Half of the protein contained in the protein is concentrated in an egg. It contains all the amino acids necessary for the construction of the protein of the human body, as well as lysozyme, a protein substance that kills and dissolves microorganisms, including putrefactive ones. But the protective properties of the protein are reduced during long-term storage. The protein is liquid near the shell and thicker around the yolk. Egg protein is the most easily digestible and complete protein found in food. It is considered a reference protein and other proteins are evaluated against it. Egg white contains approximately 17 calories.

42. What does the yolk of an egg consist of?
Egg yolk consists of water (50%), fats (more than 30%), proteins (16%), carbohydrates (0.2%), cholesterol and minerals. However, eggs are not a fatty product, since the yolk contains more harmless unsaturated fats (70-75%), and saturated fats - about 28%. Egg yolk is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, D, E, PP and others, and also contains phosphorus, potassium, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, manganese, iodine, copper, cobalt. In addition, egg yolk contains lecithin, which is involved in metabolism and is necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system. The yolk is covered on the outside with a thin transparent shell and consists of alternating concentric dark and light layers. The yolk contains about 60 calories, which is three times more than the protein.

43. What are the benefits of chicken eggs?
Eggs contain all the nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. This is an indispensable food product that is prepared quickly and is inexpensive. Eggs are an ideal combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Eggs are a valuable source of protein. One egg contains 12-14% of the recommended daily protein intake for an adult. The average chicken egg contains approximately 6.5 grams of protein (protein), as well as 5.8 grams of easily digestible fats rich in phospholipids, which are involved in the transport of fats in the body, are part of all cell membranes. The proteins and fats of chicken eggs are well absorbed by the body. Eggs are the only food that is 97-98% digestible. In terms of nutritional value, one chicken egg is equivalent to 200 ml of milk or 50 g of meat. For young children, it is the second most important food after breast milk. Eggs are low in calories - one medium egg contains 75 calories.

Chicken eggs are rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements needed in the daily human diet. Eggs contain vitamins A, D, E, H, K, PP and B vitamins. They only lack vitamin C. They also contain phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, fluorine, manganese, iodine. Phosphorus is a part of all tissues of the body, participates in metabolism, affects the activity of the heart and kidneys, and is necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system. Calcium forms the basis of bone tissue, is found in the skeleton and teeth, and affects blood clotting. Iron is involved in the processes of hematopoiesis, is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin, provides oxygen transportation in the body. Magnesium supports the normal functioning of the brain, is involved in the formation of bones and the regulation of blood sugar levels. Potassium regulates the acid-base balance of the blood, participates in the transmission of nerve impulses, improves the functioning of the heart and kidneys.

Eggs are a valuable source of folic acid, biotin, and choline, which is found in egg yolks. Folic acid (vitamin B9) normalizes the functioning of the circulatory system, supports the immune system. Biotin (vitamin H) is part of the enzymes that regulate protein and fat metabolism. It improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails. Choline (vitamin B4) prevents the formation of fats in the liver, lowers cholesterol, activates the brain, improves memory.

44. Is it bad to eat eggs because of their cholesterol content?
Previously, it was recommended to limit the amount of eggs consumed due to the presence of cholesterol in them. But after many studies, it turned out that the main cause of elevated blood cholesterol levels is the consumption of foods high in saturated fats (mainly meat and dairy products). Eggs are relatively low in saturated fats, while egg yolks have more healthy fats that help cells function properly. Of the 5 g of fat in an egg, harmful saturated fats that contribute to the production of cholesterol are only 1.5 g. And the harm from even this small amount of saturated fat is compensated by beneficial substances that prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol and help to eliminate it. Choline lowers cholesterol in the blood, prevents the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. Choline is part of the phospholipid lecithin, which is an important component of body cells, helps maintain normal cholesterol levels, prevents the development of cirrhosis of the liver and cardiovascular diseases, and 50% of the liver consists of lecithin. The body's daily need for lecithin is about 5-6 grams. An egg yolk contains approximately 3.5 grams of lecithin per 100 grams of product (and 100 grams of lamb, beef or peas contain only about 0.8 grams of lecithin).

45. How many eggs can you eat per day or per week?
One egg, and it is in the egg yolk, contains approximately 215 mg of cholesterol, and the daily norm of cholesterol is about 300 mg. Therefore, people with normal cholesterol levels can safely consume 1 egg per day. With elevated cholesterol levels or certain diseases (atherosclerosis, cholecystitis, liver disease), you should limit the consumption of eggs to 3 pieces per week. When using butter, sour cream, fatty meat, sausages or nuts, it is also worth reducing the number of eggs eaten to 2-3 pieces per week. With an increased level of cholesterol, you can eat proteins, and refuse the yolks, because they contain cholesterol. Interestingly, it is in Japan, which is considered one of the world leaders in the consumption of chicken eggs per capita, that there is a record number of centenarians and there is the lowest level of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the previously popular prejudice about the dangers of eggs due to their cholesterol content has long outlived its usefulness.

It is interesting! Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Scientists and philosophers believe that the egg was the first, theologians argue with this. Total - 2:1 - in favor of the egg. From the point of view of scientists, the egg appeared long before the appearance of the chicken in the process of evolution, in addition, everyone knows the fact that the origin of life occurs in the egg.

From Aristotle to Darwin
Aristotle was the first to raise the problem of "egg or chicken" (or, more precisely, "egg or bird"). He believed that the bird and the egg appeared at the same time. More than 2 thousand years ago, Aristotle argued as follows: the egg could not be the first to give rise to birds, because it itself must be demolished by it, and there can be no first bird, since it itself appeared from the egg, then they appeared simultaneously (??? ).

Later, this problem was widely discussed by the philosophers of Ancient Greece, including Plutarch, who formulated the question in the usual way for us - “an egg or a chicken”. The medieval scholastics, who took the teachings of Aristotle as the basis of their philosophy, also actively dealt with this problem - and they came to much more complex conclusions than a simple reading of the Bible, from which the primacy of the chicken seems to follow:

“And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, Let the water bring forth reptiles, living creatures; and let the birds fly over the earth, in the firmament of heaven. And God created great fish, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that [it] was good. And God blessed them, saying: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth” (Genesis 1:19-22).

From the point of view of Darwin's theory, the egg was the first. Since the egg is the largest cell, and the world, according to Darwin, arose from the smallest "self-animated" cells.

Philosophical view of the egg
In turn, in order to get an answer, modern philosophers have tried to find a logical error in the question. The first idea is that the concepts of "egg" and "chicken" themselves have a fuzzy scope, and in nature there may be objects about which it is impossible to clearly say whether they are included or not included in the concepts of "egg" or "chicken".
There are different types of eggs, from eggs to ova, that some people may classify as an "egg" and others may not.

In the process of evolution, there were many intermediate forms of birds, about which it is impossible to say unequivocally whether it is a chicken or not. Before the chicken, there was an intermediate form of a bird that also laid eggs, and at some point this bird was called a chicken, and its eggs were called chicken.

Another approach suggests that there is a strict solution to the paradox - a clear line between "chicken" and "non-chicken". In this case, the solution to the paradox depends on the exact definition of what is a "hen's egg". If it is “an egg that a chicken laid”, then the chicken was first, and if it is “an egg from which a chicken will hatch”, then the egg was the first.

A beautiful solution was proposed by the British philosopher Spencer in the 19th century: “A chicken is just a way in which one egg produces another egg,” thus eliminating one of the objects of the riddle.

The modern view of biologists
Modern biologists believe that the egg as an object arose before the chicken, since egg-laying appeared much earlier than the chicken and the bird in general (for example, in dinosaurs, Archeopteryx). That is, tens of millions of years ago, long before the appearance of birds, eggs already existed.

If we talk specifically about a chicken egg, then our modern knowledge of genetics comes to the rescue. It is known that in the course of life the genetic material remains unchanged, that is, an adult bird - the ancestor of a chicken could not mutate into a chicken after hatching from an egg.
This means that the mutation that led to the emergence of a new biological species could only occur at the stage of the embryo - inside the egg. Thus, a chicken could have hatched from an egg that was laid by an ancestor bird that was not related to the chicken species. Therefore, in an evolutionary sense, the egg was the first.

However, nature always turns out to be more amazing than our modern ideas about it. In 2012, the BBC reported on a curious case in Sri Lanka where a hen gave birth to a chick without laying an egg. The chick was born healthy and fully developed, but the hen died from internal injuries sustained during childbirth. According to veterinarians, the fertilized egg developed into a full-fledged chicken in 21 days.
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Before the egg was associated with the Christian Easter, it was a symbol of many holidays among various peoples. Ancient people considered it a symbol of the universe and the process of the spring revival of the earth. With the advent of Christianity, eggs became associated not with the awakening of nature, but with the birth of man.

Christians compared this symbol to the cave in which Christ was resurrected. Saint Augustine first described the resurrection of Christ from the dead as the appearance of a chick from an egg. This symbol was adopted in the celebration of the Christian Easter. Since then, at the end of the Easter Liturgy, the faithful exchange gifts in the form of eggs, and the priest blesses them.

The legend of the Easter egg

According to tradition, Saint Mary Magdalene (who was an aristocrat, not a harlot as later sources claim) met the emperor in Rome after the execution and Resurrection of Jesus. During the conversation, she condemned Pilate for having sentenced Christ and began an argument with Caesar about his resurrection.

She took a hen's egg from the table to demonstrate her point of view on the process of raising the Son of God from the dead. Caesar was imperturbable and replied that a mortal is as capable of resurrecting as an egg - turning red. The egg instantly turned red in the woman's hand! According to official legend, it is after this that Christians exchange red eggs on Easter.

Other Christian Traditions

Ancient Christian legends mixed traditional beliefs and strongly associated the egg with the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. One of the European legends tells how Mary Magdalene came to the tomb to see the body of Jesus. She took with her a basket of eggs, which were to serve as her meal. When she opened the basket in the tomb, the whitest eggshell suddenly sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow.

Another legend claims that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave eggs to the soldiers guarding the cross on which Christ slowly died. She begged the employees to take pity and cried. Her tears fell on the treats, painting them with bright colors.

Faberge eggs or what was in the first Easter egg?

The most famous painted Easter eggs were created by the famous jeweler Peter Carl Faberge. In 1883, the Russian Tsar, Alexander, commissioned Fabergé to make a special Easter gift for his wife, Empress Maria.

Taking the gift in her hands, Maria Feodorovna unfolded the skillfully made halves of the precious egg and saw a hidden golden yolk underneath. But this was not yet the main intrigue - the secret was hidden inside the yolk. It was a multicolored hen with ruby ​​eyes. But this is not the main surprise. A hinge mechanism in the tail provided access to a miniature imperial crown adorned with diamonds and a chain with a ruby ​​pendant.

The queen liked this special Faberge product so much that the king immediately ordered such gifts to be made for every Easter. In subsequent years, Nicholas II, son of Alexander, continued the custom. A total of 57 eggs were created, and only the overthrow of the royal system could interrupt this tradition.

Easter egg history started in biblical times. According to legend, Mary Magdalene presented a simple egg as a gift to the Roman emperor Tiberius. At the same time, she said: “Christ is risen!”. The emperor did not believe the words about the resurrection of Christ from the dead and declared that just as an egg cannot turn red from white, so the dead do not rise. Immediately after these words of the emperor, the egg presented to him turned red. This was evidence of the true resurrection of Christ.

An egg painted in the color of life and victory, as a symbol of Easter, has become an obligatory attribute since the 12th century.

The Easter egg consecrated in the temple was attributed magical properties. According to the beliefs of our ancestors, eggs placed in the red corner of the hut protected the household from diseases, and the house itself from fires. According to another belief, it was possible to put out the fire if you run around the conflagration three times with the words “Christ is Risen!”, Holding an egg consecrated in the church in your hands. But this person must be a true righteous man.

The illuminated egg, which was exchanged on Easter day with the first person who met on the street, had a special power. It was given to the sick to eat.

In the Soviet times of my childhood, we children were not particularly told about the history of the Easter egg and the traditions associated with it. Even my grandmother, who was a believer, did not tell me. She protected her grandchildren in her own way, because she remembered Stalin's times and repressions against believers very well.

But Easter lived! Our favorite pastime at Easter and throughout the Easter week was egg rolling. The fun was as follows: on the trays specially made for this, in which one end was raised above the ground, we rolled down, each with his own, painted egg. And below, in front of the tray, other eggs of the participants in the action were already lying on the ground. If my egg touched a neighbor's egg, he took mine. Adults also took part in this skating with pleasure.

Later, as an adult, I became interested in the history of this custom and found out that people woke the Earth from its winter sleep by rolling eggs. Once upon a time, a place was chosen for this game where there was a small hill for the eggs to roll. Later, for convenience, they began to make trays with sides.

The custom of exchanging eggs still exists today. And in some villages they arrange “balls” - beating with colored eggs.

Painted eggs were called "krashenki", and painted - "pysanky". Easter story eggs says that the most common way of coloring eggs in Russia has always been the method of coloring with onion peel. The color of the eggs is different depending on the cooking time and the amount of husk. To make it more saturated, folk wisdom advises first to boil the onion peel for half an hour, and then boil the eggs in it. So that the shell does not burst during cooking, you can put a tablespoon of salt in the water. Ready eggs are allowed to dry and rubbed with sunflower oil to shine. Although, this final chord is not required. He is an amateur.

To obtain a beautiful yellow color, our ancestors used a decoction of birch buds. When rice appeared in Russia, it was used to color eggs "speckled". Wet eggs were rolled in dry rice, wrapped in cloth and tied with thread. The rice was very close to the egg. They were cooked as usual in onion skins or birch buds.

Easter egg history continues. Today there are special souvenir inedible Easter eggs made of different materials: wood, glass, crystal, porcelain, precious metals. There are also edible, sweet chocolate ones.

And yet the true Easter egg, in my opinion, is the same chicken egg dyed in onion skins, which takes us back to the time of the origin of the tradition. Everything that stands at the source is always closer to the truth.

"Faberge Eggs" is a household name. This symbol of luxury, once sold by the Bolsheviks for next to nothing, today costs fabulous money. Private collectors pay millions for the right to own famous treasures.

Origin

We can say that Carl Faberge is a hereditary jeweler. His father opened his own company in St. Petersburg in 1842. The family came to Russia from Estonia, and the ancestors of the famous jeweler were French Huguenots who fled to Germany from the unfriendly policy of the Sun King (Louis XIV). Faberge's father's workshop did nothing outstanding: brooches and tiaras, generously studded with precious stones, were in constant demand among representatives of the wealthy merchant class, but that was all.

Gustav tried his best to educate and provide for his first child, so Carl Faberge studied at the most prestigious educational institutions in Europe, studied jewelry in Frankfurt, and then returned to Russia and at the age of 24 headed the family business. Some researchers claim that he was extremely gifted in jewelry, others are sure that the outstanding talent of Karl Gustavovich was purely administrative. But the manager, as they would say now, he was from God.

Takeoff

When in 1882 an art and industrial exhibition took place in Moscow, Faberge was lucky: the products of the enterprise attracted the attention of his wife. From that moment on, fruitful cooperation between the jeweler and the monarch's family began. It must be said that the emperor gave away expensive jewelry, not only in kilograms - in tons. It was required to present gifts during official visits to the rulers of other countries, and skillfully made sets, caskets, jewelry and various trinkets with the Faberge brand were suitable here.

Soon the company received international recognition, having won the exhibition in Nuremberg (1885). The judges chose items that replicate the gold jewelry of the Scythians. In the same year, the first Faberge egg was made for the Romanovs.

Emperor's family

The Empress favored the jeweler since 1884: she was presented with a souvenir depicting a golden basket with pearl lilies of the valley. Maria Fyodorovna found the thing charming, and we can say that thanks to this, Carl Faberge opened a new direction in the activity of the enterprise. Since then, a variety of fantasies, embodied in stone, gold or bone, have become his signature feature.

It must be said that the famous jeweler most of all appreciated the artistic side of the issue, and not all of his products were precious. Various useful little things were made at his enterprises, such as handles for umbrellas, bells or stone seals. According to some sources, the company even made Faberge silver sets, and they were really famous throughout Russia (and not only).

artistic side

The jeweler introduced the fashion to use not only precious stones and metals, but also simpler materials: crystal, bone, malachite, jasper, etc. At first, the company's staff did not have enough qualified personnel to implement all the ideas that Carl Faberge was filled with. The works had to be ordered from the Ural masters. But gradually many talented jewelers, engravers and artists became full-time employees of the enterprise. Among them were masters of the highest class, Faberge allowed them to put their own brand on their works.

The working day of the employees was just a slave: they had to work from seven in the morning to eleven in the evening, and on Sundays - until one in the afternoon. Surprisingly, at the same time, Carl Faberge enjoyed the favor of his subordinates: they did not leave him, did not organize competing firms, although many had such an opportunity. It must be said that the famous jeweler paid a generous salary, he did not leave old and sick workers to the mercy of fate, he did not skimp on praise.

The company had its own recognizable style. Another feature was a variety of enamels that delight the eye with more than 120 shades, and the technique of the so-called guilloche enamel has not been reproduced.

Imperial collection eggs

Carl Faberge received the widest fame and posthumous fame thanks to which his company made every year for the imperial family. The beginning of the tradition was laid by chance. The Tsar asked the jeweler to make a surprise gift for Her Majesty Maria Feodorovna. Faberge was given freedom of choice - this is how the first egg of the imperial collection appeared.

The first sample was a golden egg covered with white enamel on the outside. Inside it was placed a yolk and a colored chicken. She, in turn, also had a secret: inside the bird was a tiny imperial crown and a ruby ​​egg, which was subsequently lost.

The idea was not original: such souvenirs are still kept among the exhibits of several European museums (perhaps Carl Faberge drew inspiration there).

The Empress was delighted with the gift. From that moment on, Faberge had to present a new masterpiece to the court every year, but with two conditions. Firstly, an egg with a secret could only be made for the royal family. Secondly, it had to be absolutely original.

When Nicholas II came to the throne, the tradition continued, but now Faberge created two souvenirs: for the wife of the monarch and for the dowager empress.

Bypassing the royal ban

Many years later, it became known that the jeweler nevertheless circumvented the prohibition of his august patron: seven eggs, very similar to the originals from the royal treasury, turned out to be the property of the wife of a certain gold miner. What was to blame - the fabulous wealth of Mrs. Kelch or her lovely eyes - is not known for certain. In addition to them, there are at least eight more Faberge eggs made by private orders. The fact that this fact is not documented is an excellent cover for scammers.

The house of Carl Faberge spent almost a year to make each masterpiece. The most talented artists were involved in creating sketches, and the type of the future gift was kept in the strictest confidence.

In the process of making the royal surprise, Faberge did not pursue profit: in different years, Easter eggs cost the emperor different amounts and were made from different, sometimes completely inexpensive materials. So, in 1916, the monarch received a steel egg, for which four cartridges served as a stand.

The owners of the preserved treasures

They talk about 50, 52 and even 56 copies that Faberge made for the imperial family, but some of them were lost. The Bolsheviks, having come to power, not only robbed the imperial treasury, but also sold it for nothing. The location of only 46 of them is now known.

In 2013, a truly royal gift to the residents of St. Petersburg was made by the Russian oligarch Maxim Vekselberg. He bought the world's largest collection of eggs from the Forbes family and opened the Faberge Museum, where 9 out of 15 copies can be seen by everyone. Another 10 masterpieces are among the exhibits, 13 are in museums in the United States of America, 2 in Switzerland and 13 more are scattered in private collections (several belong to

Another Faberge Museum was opened in Baden-Baden, where eggs made in 1917 are displayed: from (intended for the Dowager Empress) and glass-crystal (for Alexandra Feodorovna). The authenticity of the latter raises some doubts, since the same was found in the storerooms of the Mineralogical Museum in Moscow, but the owner of the masterpiece, another Russian billionaire Alexander Ivanov, assures that he is the owner of the original.

From 1885 to 1916, the court jeweler of the royal family, Carl Faberge, presented the king with one masterpiece a year. The total number of Easter eggs created by Faberge for the imperial family is 50.

Easter before the revolution was the favorite holiday of the people of Russia, as it coincided with the arrival of spring, warmth and the awakening of nature. At the end of the 19th century, Easter acquired a universal meaning: a whole branch of applied art was formed, which was engaged in the production of Easter products. Easter eggs were produced in huge quantities, and they were made from a variety of materials - glass, porcelain, wood, various ornamental materials, stones, and flowers.

Ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya once told how for Easter she was presented with a large egg made from live lilies of the valley, and a miniature precious egg was attached to it, which could be worn as a keychain. Once she was presented with a simple straw egg, inside of which were packed wonderful little things from Faberge.
Imperial Faberge Easter Eggs

Jewelry Easter eggs by Carl Faberge were considered the pinnacle of the genre of Easter applied art, they became a kind of symbol of the era.

Tsar Alexander III gave Faberge Easter eggs to his wife Maria Feodorovna, Tsar Nicholas II presented them as gifts to his mother and wife Alexandra Feodorovna. It is assumed that the emperors gave Easter eggs produced by Faberge and other members of the royal family. Currently, only 42 Fabergé masterpieces are known to have survived.

The order, according to which Faberge made eggs for the king, contained the fulfillment of three conditions: egg-shaped; a surprise containing a connection with some event of the royal family and the third condition - that the work should not be repeated.

Thus, these Easter gifts were created decorated with royal monograms or dates, some had miniature portraits of children and the emperor himself or images of royal residences, two of them contained models of ships on which the last Russian emperor sailed.

The egg was solemnly presented to the tsar either by Carl Faberge himself or by his son Eugene and was invariably met with great delight, since at the same time everyone could see the surprise hidden in the gift.

Egg technique

Made eggs were fastened with clasps and loops so that if necessary, they could be easily disassembled for maintenance or repair. In turn, the use of such equipment and such a design of the product removed many restrictions in the choice of materials. Faberge combined the use of precious materials with materials that were inexpensive but easy to work with.

The "shell" of the egg was enamelled using the famous Faberge technique. If the egg consisted of two drop-down halves, the design was developed so that the finish carefully masked the closing edges of both halves.

Decorative overlays attached to the surface of Easter eggs not only defined the artistic style, but also contributed to the creation of plots that anticipated or emphasized the significance of the surprises inside. The choice of material for the manufacture of decorative finishes depended on their purpose.

In the manufacture of Easter eggs, as a substitute for gold, which has both beauty and strength, gilded bronze and gilded silver were used. Silver was also used to frame miniature surprise portraits, as it had the most lustrous surface of all materials. For purely decorative purposes, Faberge often used colored gold. Selecting the ratio of pure gold and other pure metals, he received a set of shades of different saturation.

Many Easter eggs are decorated with a continuous decorative mesh (cagework), which was made from a wide variety of materials.

Most of the details of the outer decoration, starting with frames and scallops made of gold of different shades and ending with the leaves and stems of flowers on the “Lilies of the Valley” Easter egg, were fastened to the egg shell using miniature fasteners. Fasteners soldered to the reverse side of the parts were inserted into the holes in the shells. Then they were bent along the inner surface of the shell to securely fasten the decorations. While drilling holes in the enameled shell, the egg was immersed in water so that the drill would not overheat and damage the enamel coating.

Surprises in Faberge eggs

Among the "surprises" hidden in many Faberge Easter eggs are miniature models made from precious materials, jewelry, as well as images of people, events and places that mattered to the imperial family. Some surprises are, in fact, individual works of art that can only be seen or, in some cases, set in motion when removed from the egg. Other secrets can be observed through the transparent shell of the egg.

The opening parts of the egg were hinged. The upper part of the egg shell served as a lid. The side parts were flaps that opened up or down depending on the location of the hinges. The part of the outer body of the egg that hides the surprise was usually attached to spring hinges, which are designed in such a way that when a button or pawl is pressed, it opens smoothly.

There was no object, object or plant that the Faberge masters could not reproduce as a surprise for an Easter egg. The model of the Gatchina Palace with the adjacent territories, with trees, lampposts, was made of four colors of gold. The layout of the monument to Peter I, made by Falcone on the order of Catherine the Great, was also embodied in a “surprise”. The Faberge Easter Egg “Gatchina Palace” is located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, The Walters Art Museum.

The simple mechanisms used in some Easter eggs have been specially designed for each occasion. A simple gear mechanism raised and lowered three miniature portraits of Czar Nicholas II and his eldest daughters, Olga and Tatiana, in a Lily of the Valley Easter egg. Some eggs have built-in clocks, which are wound by keys, which are usually inserted into a hole in the back of the case, but there are also mechanisms that are wound by a handle. On some Easter eggs, the clock has a horizontal numeral band that rotates against a fixed marker. Inside special eggs are hidden figurines of birds that appear every hour from the top of the egg.

Perhaps the most famous “surprise” is the “Coronation” Easter egg coronation carriage - a miniature model 3 and 1/6 inches (8cm) long, made of gold and enamel - an exact copy of the carriage that was used at the coronation of Nicholas II and his wife 1896 d. “Curtains” are engraved directly on the rock crystal windows. Decorated doorknobs, smaller than a grain of rice, pivot to latch open and close. The body of the carriage rests on straps that are shock-absorbing like real leather, thus the body on the chassis also sways when the crew moves.

The most ingenious secrets are set in motion by winding mechanisms. The Swiss automatic machines of the 18th century served as the basis for the creation of these mechanisms; however, the model of the train in the Great Siberian Way Easter egg is an exact copy of the real locomotive and carriages of the Trans-Siberian Express. The working model train is folded section by section into a velvet-lined case inside the egg. The map of the railway route and the heraldic eagle crowning the entire composition also serve as a hint of the surprise hidden inside the egg.

Made in the best traditions of Faberge, the Easter egg “The Great Siberian Way” and its “surprise” are among those works of art that delight the eye, captivate the imagination and warm the soul.

Nine eggs returned to Russia

On February 4, 2004, Sotheby's auction house announced the sale, under a private agreement, of the Faberge Forbes collection to Russian industrialist Viktor Vekselberg, who returned the eggs to Russia. Before returning to Russia, the collection, including the legendary nine Imperial Easter Eggs, was presented at a public exhibition at Sotheby's in New York. This part of the collection, consisting of nine eggs, was valued at $ 90 million, the final transaction amount was not disclosed. Sotheby's auction house carried out this private transaction on behalf of the Forbes family.

Source: Imperial Faberge Easter Eggs

Faberge Easter eggs from the collection of the Moscow Kremlin (Armoury)

One of the oldest and richest museums in the Moscow Kremlin is the Armory, which has a wonderful collection of monuments.
arts and crafts. The collection of the national treasury presents products of Russian jewelry firms of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among them are the works of the famous Faberge firm: watches, cigarette cases, jewelry, silverware, tea and coffee sets, crystal vase frames, miniature sculptural figurines made of colored ornamental stones.

The pride of the collection is ten imperial Easter eggs with surprises, which are the pinnacle of creative inspiration and refined craftsmanship of a galaxy of outstanding jewelers and artists under the guidance of Carl Faberge, who at the beginning of the 20th century was recognized in Paris as a Maitre - one of the best jewelers of our time.

Making elaborately decorated Easter eggs was both a tradition and
old craft in Russia. Long before Faberge began creating jewelry eggs for the imperial family, eggs made from precious metals and stones were made for Russian tsars. But only Carl Faberge and his talented team of artists, jewelers, stone cutters, model sculptors and miniaturists managed to bring the art of making jewelry Easter eggs to an unprecedented and unsurpassed level of elegance, craftsmanship and creative imagination.

In total, from 1885 to 1917, by order of the emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II, about 56 Easter masterpieces were created (the exact number is unknown). Eggs made in the workshop of Mikhail Perkhin, which after his death was headed by Heinrich Wigström, were distinguished by unprecedented luxury, amazing imagination, unsurpassed perfection in detail, and a virtuoso combination of a variety of techniques. Never repeated, they were especially impressive with the surprises contained in them - miniature copies of royal yachts and cruisers with the finest gear, palaces with flowerbeds of "fluffy" gold broken in front of them, monuments strewn with stones, flowers or buds.

Jewelry Easter eggs-souvenirs were a surprise not only for those to whom they were intended as a gift, but often for the emperor who ordered them. "Your Majesty will be pleased" - such an answer was usually given by Faberge to the question about the plot of the next egg.

Egg with a model of the cruiser "Memory of Azov", 1891

On the armored ship "Memory of Azov", built at the Baltic Shipyard in the late 80s of the XIX century, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich (future Emperor Nicholas II) traveled to the East in 1890-1891, during which he was attacked by a Japanese fanatic samurai in the city of Otsu and miraculously survived. The voyage ended in Vladivostok, where the Tsarevich and heir to the throne laid the foundation for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The egg was presented by Emperor Alexander III to Empress Maria Feodorovna for Easter 1891.

Egg clock, 1899

The clock hand resembles Cupid's arrow shot from a bow; it is surrounded by torches, whose flames turn into lush vegetative curls. Together with a bouquet of lilies "sprouting" through a wreath of multi-colored gold roses, they symbolize the virtuous flame of family love. This Easter egg, made in the form of an old French clock in the style of Louis XVI, is a kind of embodied declaration of love by Nicholas II to his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

Egg with a model of a Siberian train, 1900

This Easter egg is a typical example of a commemorative gift product created by the company in honor of an important historical event - the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, inspired by Emperor Alexander III and continued into the reign of Nicholas II. The road connected the European and Asian parts of Russia, the largest industrial cities with the military port of Vladivostok, which gave impetus to the intensive development of the vast Siberian outskirts.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

Egg clover, 1902

On the openwork rim of the egg there is an image of the imperial crown, the date "1902" and the monogram of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna framed by clover flowers. The surprise is gone. But the museum staff managed to find a unique archival document, from which it follows that a precious quatrefoil with 4 miniatures was fortified inside. Probably, portraits of the royal daughters (Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia) were depicted on the petals of the surprise, therefore it was a symbol of the happy marriage of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, a symbol of the union of two loving people. According to legend, it was believed that finding a four-leaf clover was a great rarity and good luck. The egg is made in the "modern" style with its floral motifs and exquisite outlines, which is the best suited for the embodiment of an intimate family theme.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for Easter 1902.

Egg "Moscow Kremlin", 1904-1906



This Easter egg was made to commemorate the stay of the tsar and the tsarina in the Mother See of the Golden-domed capital during the celebration of Easter in 1903, which was received with enthusiasm by the entire Russian society and, in particular, by Muscovites. Carrying out this work of extraordinary design, the masters of the Faberge firm sought to create an image of the ancient Kremlin - both majestic and fabulously elegant. Before us is a peculiar, virtuoso variation on the theme of the Kremlin architecture.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for Easter 1906.

Egg with a model of the Alexander Palace, 1908

The Alexander Palace was the country residence of Tsar Nicholas II and his family, who rarely left the walls of the palace and led a rather secluded life, for which they were called "Tsarskoye Selo hermits".

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for Easter 1908.

Egg with a model of the yacht "Standard", 1909

The yacht "Standart" was the favorite yacht of Nicholas II. On it, the king's family spent a lot of time in the skerries of the Gulf of Finland, until the yacht was wrecked in the coastal skerries.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for Easter 1909.

Egg with a model of the monument to Alexander III, 1910

The model inside the egg reproduces the monument by the sculptor P. Trubetskoy, erected on the Znamenskaya Square in St. Petersburg near the Nikolaevsky railway station in accordance with the rescript of Nicholas II in memory of his father.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Maria Feodorovna for Easter 1910.

Egg "300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty", 1913

The egg, made for the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty, is decorated with eighteen miniature portraits of representatives of the reigning dynasty. Flat diamonds are fixed at the top and bottom of the egg, through which the dates "1613" and "1913" are visible. Inside the egg, a rotating blued steel globe is fixed, on which a gold overlay image of the Northern Hemisphere is placed twice: on the one, the territory of Russia within the borders of 1613 is marked with colored gold, on the other - within the borders of 1913. In the decor of the egg, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the ruling dynasty, which was magnificently celebrated in the empire, elements of state symbols were abundantly used.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for Easter 1913.

Egg with a miniature on an easel, 1916

The steel egg was created during the First World War, a difficult time for both Russia and the royal family. Therefore, its appearance is strict, and the decor is official and dry. Since the egg was created in honor of awarding the Tsar with the Order of St. George IV degree, the gold frame of the miniature is decorated with a black and orange ribbon and a white enamel cross of this order.

The egg was presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for Easter 1916.

Peter Karl Gustavovich Faberge. Some kind of overseas name. Was he one of ours?

Almost. Faberge was born in St. Petersburg, but had foreign roots. His father Gustav belonged to the family of French Protestants (Huguenots). Ancestors were forced to leave Picardy - region in northern France- in 1685 due to religious persecution. First, the Faberge family lived in Germany for a long time, and then settled in the Baltic province of Russia - the Livonian province. It was from there that Gustav Faberge moved to St. Petersburg.

And why didn't he live in the Baltics?

In general, Gustav Faberge was associated with St. Petersburg from the age of 16. There he studied with jewelers Andreas Ferdinand Spiegel and Johann Wilhelm Keibel. By the way, Keibel in 1826 made the Small Imperial Crown, with which Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was married to the kingdom. Gustav Faberge decided to keep up with his mentors. True, he began with the opening in 1842 of a small jewelry shop and gold and diamond workshop n and Big Sea, 11. And his affairs went well.

So, that is, the first Faberge eggs began to be made in 1842?

No. Gustav Faberge never made famous eggs, and like his teacher, he never became a jeweler of the Imperial House. He generally retired in 1860 and moved to Dresden. In the meantime, his 14-year-old son Karl traveled around Europe and studied jewelry making, production in St. Petersburg was led by Hiskias Pendin, a faithful assistant to both Gustav and Karl. Faberge Jr. took charge of the factory in 1872, when he was 26 years old. In his submission were 500 jewelers who worked in numerous workshops. Very soon, the products of the Faberge house gained wide popularity. The fame of them reached the Emperor Alexander III.

And when did the first Faberge egg appear and what did it look like?

In 1885. In fact, the idea to create a souvenir egg from precious metals does not belong to Carl Faberge himself. He simply fulfilled the order of Emperor Alexander III, who wished to make a gift for Easter to his wife Maria Feodorovna. And the emperor himself was not original either - similar eggs were made in Europe from the beginning of the 18th century. But the Faberge jewelry house did not make a copy, but created its own version. It was an egg of gold, covered with white opaque enamel. And then - as in a fairy tale about the death of Kashchei: inside the egg there was a matte gold yolk, in there was a chicken made of multi-colored "mosaic gold", in the chicken was kept a miniature imperial crown, which hid the last surprise - a ruby ​​egg-pendant with a gold chain.

Wow, it's just some kind of "kinder surprise"!

And you thought! You won’t surprise the Empress with a simple egg made of precious metals! In general, 30 eggs were presented to Maria Feodorovna. Surprises in them were the most original. For example, inside the egg "Danish Palaces" (1890) were hidden 12 miniature paintings on mother-of-pearl with images of the palaces of Denmark and Russia, and an egg made of jade and gold "Memory of Azov" (1891) hid a model of the frigate of the same name, on which Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich and his brother Georgy Alexandrovich sailed to the Far East in 1890-1891.

And how many eggs were made for the royal family?

Opinions are divided on the point. There are 71 eggs in total. It is generally accepted that 52 of them were made for the royal family, although there are two more eggs, allegedly intended for one of the imperial persons. Since 1895, two eggs were made for Easter: for Maria Feodorovna and the wife of Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna. In 1897, the most famous egg appeared - "Coronation", dedicated to celebrations on the occasion of the wedding to the kingdom of Nicholas II and his wife. The surprise was a copy of the gilded carriage of Catherine II, used in the coronation ceremonies. The miniature of the carriage repeated all the details of the original. Both doors open, steps are thrown out from the inside on both sides. Curtains are engraved on rock crystal windows. This carriage was made for 15 months, 16 hours a day, by the 24-year-old master Georg Stein.

Stop. That is, Faberge eggs and surprises for them were not made by Faberge himself?

Certainly! Carl Faberge did not create a single egg with his own hands. Everything was done by the workers of his workshops. On the eve of 1914, almost 600 jewelers worked there. The most famous of them is Mikhail Perkhin. He was the chief master of the company for 18 years and ran his own workshop, where 28 eggs were created. For the 200th anniversary of St. Petersburg, they made an egg "Peter I", on the sides of which there were four m miniatures with views of the city. The surprise was the model of the Bronze Horseman. In 1900, Perkhin made an egg from silver "Trans-Siberian Railway".On the egg itself, a map of the Russian Empire with a highway was minted, and inside lay a miniature copy of the trainfrom gold and platinum. By the way, the train was mechanical, and a golden winding key was attached to it. In 1903, Perkhin died, and with replaced by Henrik Immanuel Wigström.

Foreigner again?

Yes. Wigström was born and trained in jewelry making in Finland, but at the age of 16 he came to work in St. Petersburg. At first he was an apprentice in the Faberge firm, and since 1906 he was responsible for all major orders. In 1915, for Maria Feodorovna and Alexandra Feodorovna, he made eggs "Red Cross with Portraits" and "Red Cross Triptych". Inside the first were portraits two daughters, sister, wife and cousin of Nicholas II in the form of nurses. All of them were sisters of mercy during the First World War.

Wait, did expensive eggs continue to be made even during the war?

No one thought of abandoning the tradition. True, by Easter 1916 the same Wigstrom made an egg very different from luxury items released earlier. It's mademade of artillery steel and has a stand in the formartillery shells. But this egg, of course, still contains elements made of precious metals. Included as a surprisea miniature easel with a painting by the court artist Vasily Zuev, who depicted the scene of the Emperor and Tsarevich Alexei visiting the headquarters of the General Staff. Generally, duringDuring the war, the Faberge factory made many items destined to be sent to the front: mugs, plates, tobacco boxes and even grenades.

Did his factory produce anything besides eggs before the war?

In fact, the range of products produced was huge! Over the entire history of the House of Faberge, more than 150,000 pieces of jewelry were made. And most of them are utilitarian: photo frames, cigarette cases, cane knobs, pencil cases, watches, perfume bottles, candy boxes, which were called bonbonnieres.

And where does the story of the House of Faberge end?

The Faberge factory was waiting for a finale quite typical for private industries of that time. The well-being of the jewelry house was already shaken during the war, but the October Revolution of 1917 finished it off completely. In 1918, all branches of the company were closed, although the store in Moscow continued to operate until February 1919. Carl Faberge himself was able to escape to Switzerland, but he did not have long to live. The jeweler and entrepreneur, depressed because of the inability to do what he loved, died on September 24, 1920. The four sons of Carl Faberge, and then his grandchildren, set up a small production abroad.

And what happened to the collection of eggs made for the royal family?

The Bolsheviks actively traded in products from the Faberge factory. Most of them were sold abroad. A significant part of the collection ended up in the US and the UK. Easter eggs are no exception. Now five of them are in the Virginia Museum of Art, three in the New Orleans Museum of Art, four in onde of Edouard and Maurice Sandoz in Switzerland, four more are in the collection of Queen Elizabeth II. And 14 are kept in private collections.

Well, at least something is left in Russia?

Several eggs, including the Trans-Siberian Railway, were not taken out of the country. It is now in the Kremlin Armory. There are 10 eggs in total. One egg each is in the collection of the Hermitage and the Fersman Mineralogical Museum in Moscow. But most of the eggs in the exposition of the Faberge Museum- 15, including "Hen" and "Coronation". By the way, this is where the “Order of St. George” egg, made for Maria Feodorovna for Easter 1916, is stored. It was the last egg given to her. And the only one that she was able to take abroad in 1919. The product was passed down from generation to generation, and then it ended up in the Forbes collection. In 2004, the entire collection was put up for auction, where it was purchased by Viktor Vekselberg for the Faberge Museum.

Today, on the most important Christian holiday, we want to briefly tell you the story of Faberge eggs.

The exquisite works of Faberge survived a tragic and blood-drenched history that scattered them around the world.

What can be found inside an Easter egg? A bar of chocolate? A fluffy, yellow Easter toy chicken? Over the course of 30 years, the empresses of Tsarist Russia have learned to expect a little more from Easter gifts. Inside a pure white, life-sized egg - fashioned in enamel, not chocolate - a gift from Tsar Alexander III to Tsarina Maria Feodorovna in 1885, was a golden yolk hiding a golden hen. Inside the golden hen were a diamond and a miniature of the imperial crown.

It was only the first of 50 decorative Easter eggs made for the Russian royal family by Peter Carl Faberge's St. Petersburg studio between 1885 and 1917, when the October Revolution brought the Bolsheviks to power.
The eggs were made of gold covered with fine layers of lacquer and studded with precious stones.

The phrase "Faberge Eggs" has become synonymous with luxury and an emblem of the wealth of the imperial house and pre-revolutionary Russia. As well as the name of the type of jewelry in the form of eggs with surprises and one of the symbols of Russia. Eggs were made of gold, silver, precious stones. Precious enamels and fine jewelry work were used.

Romanovs

One of the Faberge eggs contains a model of the Trans-Siberian Express - it's a celebration in honor of the railway, its tiny locomotive, complete with a diamond headlight, pulls five golden cars, their windows are rock crystal and engraved with infinitely small inscriptions on the cars "direct Siberian message", "for ladies”, “for smokers”, “for non-smokers”, “church”. With the help of a small key, the train can be set in motion.

Often masters of the Faberge company experimented with non-traditional materials - rock crystal, precious woods, rare minerals. Each egg took almost a year to make. The structure of the Faberge firm was ahead of its time: the jewelry firms included in the concern were quite independent in their work.

Many jewelers working for Faberge owned their own firms, but considered it an honor to participate in the execution of the imperial order. 62 eggs have survived to this day. Most of them are kept in state museums. 54 imperial eggs are known: 46 pieces made by the royal order have survived to this day; the rest are known from descriptions, accounts, and old photographs and are thought to be lost.

Carl Faberge was a hereditary jeweler, traveled around Europe and studied in Dresden, after which he began to master the jewelry business with the Frankfurt master Josef Friedman. After that, he returned to Russia. At the age of 24, in 1870, he took over his father's firm. In 1882, at the All-Russian Art and Industrial Exhibition in Moscow, the products of his company attracted the attention of Emperor Alexander III. So Karl received the patronage of the royal family and the title of "jeweler of His Imperial Majesty and jeweler of the Imperial Hermitage."

All the eggs made by the firm of Carl Faberge for the imperial family were kept in a special room in the Anichkov Palace. During the 1917 revolution, they were stolen by the Bolsheviks and transferred to the Kremlin Armory. However, seven of the eggs went missing and have not been found to this day.

One of the eggs was not finished due to the 1917 revolution. The Constellation Egg was unique in its kind, as rare earth minerals were used for it. Now the egg is stored in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum in Moscow.

Although the House of Fabergé was nationalized by the Bolsheviks after the revolution, Carl's son Peter left the country and died in Switzerland in 1920. To purchase foreign currency for the young Soviet Union, Stalin had to sell about 14 eggs, which ended up in European collections.

Nine eggs from the original collection were sold to Malcolm Forbes and have been in New York for a long time. That was until they were bought by the Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who spent more than $100 million on the collection.

Rothschild egg. In 2007, an egg from the private collection of the Rothschild family broke two auction records at once as the most expensive chronograph and as the most expensive Faberge egg sold. The sale amounted to 8.9 million euros.

Incredibly, in 2004, one of the missing eggs was found completely by accident. Lucky Anonymous bought it at a flea market in the middle of scrap gold. Imagine his surprise when he found out the true cost of the egg - about thirty million dollars.

Traditions continue. The House of Faberge has recently revived its Easter tradition. In February 2015, the firm created an egg for Qatar's ruling dynasty. The modern egg is made of mother-of-pearl, gray pearls, diamonds and white gold.

Easter egg history started in biblical times. According to legend, Mary Magdalene presented a simple egg as a gift to the Roman emperor Tiberius. At the same time, she said: “Christ is risen!”. The emperor did not believe the words about the resurrection of Christ from the dead and declared that just as an egg cannot turn red from white, so the dead do not rise. Immediately after these words of the emperor, the egg presented to him turned red. This was evidence of the true resurrection of Christ.

An egg painted in the color of life and victory, as a symbol of Easter, has become an obligatory attribute since the 12th century.

The Easter egg consecrated in the temple was attributed magical properties. According to the beliefs of our ancestors, eggs placed in the red corner of the hut protected the household from diseases, and the house itself from fires. According to another belief, it was possible to put out the fire if you run around the conflagration three times with the words “Christ is Risen!”, Holding an egg consecrated in the church in your hands. But this person must be a true righteous man.

The illuminated egg, which was exchanged on Easter day with the first person who met on the street, had a special power. It was given to the sick to eat.

In the Soviet times of my childhood, we children were not particularly told about the history of the Easter egg and the traditions associated with it. Even my grandmother, who was a believer, did not tell me. She protected her grandchildren in her own way, because she remembered Stalin's times and repressions against believers very well.

But Easter lived! Our favorite pastime at Easter and throughout the Easter week was egg rolling. The fun was as follows: on the trays specially made for this, in which one end was raised above the ground, we rolled down, each with his own, painted egg. And below, in front of the tray, other eggs of the participants in the action were already lying on the ground. If my egg touched a neighbor's egg, he took mine. Adults also took part in this skating with pleasure.

Later, as an adult, I became interested in the history of this custom and found out that people woke the Earth from its winter sleep by rolling eggs. Once upon a time, a place was chosen for this game where there was a small hill for the eggs to roll. Later, for convenience, they began to make trays with sides.

The custom of exchanging eggs still exists today. And in some villages they arrange “balls” - beating with colored eggs.

Painted eggs were called "krashenki", and painted - "pysanky". Easter story eggs says that the most common way of coloring eggs in Russia has always been the method of coloring with onion peel. The color of the eggs is different depending on the cooking time and the amount of husk. To make it more saturated, folk wisdom advises first to boil the onion peel for half an hour, and then boil the eggs in it. So that the shell does not burst during cooking, you can put a tablespoon of salt in the water. Ready eggs are allowed to dry and rubbed with sunflower oil to shine. Although, this final chord is not required. He is an amateur.

To obtain a beautiful yellow color, our ancestors used a decoction of birch buds. When rice appeared in Russia, it was used to color eggs "speckled". Wet eggs were rolled in dry rice, wrapped in cloth and tied with thread. The rice was very close to the egg. They were cooked as usual in onion skins or birch buds.

Easter egg history continues. Today there are special souvenir inedible Easter eggs made of different materials: wood, glass, crystal, porcelain, precious metals. There are also edible, sweet chocolate ones.

And yet the true Easter egg, in my opinion, is the same chicken egg dyed in onion skins, which takes us back to the time of the origin of the tradition. Everything that stands at the source is always closer to the truth.

Who want to be a millionaire? 10/07/17. Questions and answers.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Who want to be a millionaire?"

Questions and answers:

Yuri Stoyanov and Igor Zolotovitsky

Fireproof Amount: 200,000 rubles.

Questions:

1. What fate befell the teremok in the fairy tale of the same name?

2. What does the chorus of the song in the film by Svetlana Druzhinina call for for the midshipmen?

3. What button can not be found on the remote control of the cabin of a modern elevator?

4. What expression means the same as "to walk"?

5. What is stroganina made of?

6. In what operating mode of the washing machine is the centrifugal force especially important?

7. What phrase from the movie "Aladdin's Magic Lamp" became the name of the album of the group "Auktyon"?

8. Where do the sailors of the sailboat take their places on the command “Whistle everyone up!”?

9. Which of the four portraits in the foyer of the Taganka Theater was added by Lyubimov at the insistence of the district party committee?

10. The flag of which state is not tricolor?

11. Who can rightly be called a hereditary sculptor?

12. What is the name of the model of the human body - a visual aid for future doctors?

13. What was inside the first Easter egg made by Carl Faberge?

Right answers:

1. fell apart

2. do not hang your nose

3. "Let's go!"

4. on foot

5. salmon

7. “All is calm in Baghdad”

8. upper deck

9. Konstantin Stanislavsky

10. Albania

11. Alexandra Rukavishnikova

12. phantom

13. golden hen

The players did not answer the 13th question, but took the winnings in the amount of 400,000 rubles.

_____________________________________

Svetlana Zeynalova and Timur Solovyov

Fireproof Amount: 200,000 rubles.

Questions:

2. Where, according to the catchphrase, does a road paved with good intentions lead?

3. What is used for sifting flour?

4. How to continue Pushkin's line: "He forced himself to respect ..."?

5. What appeared this year for the first time in the history of the football Confederations Cup?

6. In what city is the unfinished Sagrada Familia located?

7. How does the line of a popular song end: “The leaves were falling, and the blizzard was chalk ...”?

8. What kind of creativity did Arkady Velyurov do in the film "Pokrovsky Gates"?

9, the website says. The addition of what, as it is believed, should the fat woman plant contribute?

10. What did Parisians see in 1983 thanks to Pierre Cardin?

11. Who killed the huge serpent Python?

12. What was the rank of 50 Swiss francs in 2016?

13. What are the adherents of the cargo cult in Melanesia building from natural materials?

Right answers:

1. profile

4. And I couldn’t think of a better one

5. video replays for judges

6. in Barcelona

7. Where have you been?

8. sang verses

10. play "Juno and Avos"

11. Apollo

13. runways

The players could not answer question 13 correctly, but left with a fireproof amount.

Faberge is today, perhaps, one of the most famous jewelry brands. And all thanks to the precious eggs that were produced by this jewelry house for the Russian imperial family. Today, these works of art are a huge rarity, surrounded by secrets, and their value reaches tens of millions of dollars. In our review, little-known facts about the most famous eggs in the world.

1. The first egg was made in 1885 by order of Alexander III

The tradition of painting Easter eggs has existed in Russia since ancient times. The imperial family followed suit. But in 1885, Tsar Alexander III, without suspecting it, somewhat transformed this tradition. Deciding to surprise his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna, he gave her a special gift - an egg with a secret.

It was a precious white-enamelled egg with a golden band running across it. It opened, and inside was a golden "yolk". In it, in turn, sat a golden hen, inside of which there was a ruby ​​​​crown and pendant. The Empress was delighted with such a gift.

2. The first egg had a prototype

Actually, Faberge did not come up with this Easter matryoshka himself. According to the idea of ​​Alexander III, the Easter egg with a secret was supposed to be a free interpretation of an egg made at the beginning of the 18th century, 3 copies of which are known today.

They are located: in Rosenborg Castle (Copenhagen); in the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna) and in a private collection (formerly in the Green Vaults art gallery, Dresden). In all the mentioned instances of eggs, a chicken is hidden, opening which, you can find a crown, and in it - a ring. It is believed that the emperor wanted to please his wife with a surprise that would remind her of a well-known product from the Danish royal treasury.

3. All Faberge eggs contain a surprise.

The empress was so fascinated by the gift that Faberge, who made the egg, instantly turned into a court jeweler and received a lifetime order. He had to produce an egg every year. There was only one condition - the egg must contain some kind of surprise. The fact that it should be made in a single copy was not even discussed.

Since then, Alexander III presented his wife with a new precious egg every Easter. This tradition was continued by the son of Alexander III, Nicholas II, who on Easter holidays gave precious eggs to his mother and wife.

Each Faberge egg contained a tiny miracle: a miniature copy of the royal crown, a ruby ​​pendant, a mechanical swan, an elephant, a golden mini copy of the palace, 11 tiny portraits on an easel, a ship model, an exact working copy of the royal carriage, etc.

4. The Bolsheviks underestimated Faberge eggs and thus saved them

After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks, trying to replenish the treasury of the "world's first communist state," sold Russian artistic treasures. They plundered churches, sold paintings by old masters from the Hermitage Museum and took up crowns, tiaras, necklaces and Faberge eggs that belonged to the Emperor's family.

In 1925, a catalog of valuables of the imperial court (crowns, wedding crowns, a scepter, orb, tiaras, necklaces and other valuables, including the famous Faberge eggs) was sent to all foreign representatives in the USSR. Part of the Diamond Fund was sold to the English antiquary Norman Weiss.

In 1928, seven “low-value” Faberge eggs and 45 other items were seized from the Diamond Fund.

However, it was thanks to this assessment, unflattering for the creator of jewelry masterpieces, that Faberge eggs were saved from being melted down.

Thus, one of the most incredible creations of Faberge, the Peacock Egg, was preserved. Inside the masterpiece of crystal and gold was an enamelled peacock. Moreover, this bird was mechanical - when it was removed from the golden branch, the peacock raised its tail like a real bird and could even walk.

5. The fate of several eggs is unknown

In total, Faberge made 52 eggs for the Russian Imperial Court, 19 others were made by order of private individuals. After the 1917 revolution, many were lost. 62 eggs have survived to this day, of which 10 items are in the Kremlin collection, some belong to the Fabergé jewelry house, the rest are in museums and private collections.

The location of several imperial eggs is not known for certain. For example, the fate of the travel bag egg, created in the Faberge workshop in 1889, is shrouded in mystery.

The last time this egg was allegedly seen in one of the London shops in 1949. According to rumors, it was sold to an unknown person for $1250.

6. One of the imperial eggs was bought by a buyer of precious metals for 8,000 pounds.

One of the lost imperial Easter eggs was found in a completely amazing way. This egg, which belonged to Empress Maria Feodorovna and then disappeared without a trace for more than 90 years, was purchased at a flea market in the United States by a buyer of precious scrap.

The last time this Faberge piece was seen was in 1922 in Moscow. An egg made of gold and adorned with diamonds and sapphires, 8.2 cm high, was confiscated by the Bolsheviks. Its further fate remained unknown for a long time, until in 1964 a unique work of jewelry art went under the hammer at a New York auction called "gold egg-shaped watch" - for $ 2,450.

An American who bought a golden egg for 8 thousand pounds ($ 14,000) could not know its true value. For several years he tried to sell the egg by keeping it in his kitchen. Tired of unsuccessful attempts, he tried to find out something about the manufacturer and typed in the search engine the name engraved on the built-in watch. So he came across an article by Kieran McCarthy, director of the royal jewelery house Wartski. He called McCarthy and then came to London with pictures of his purchase.

The expert immediately recognized them as one of the eggs created by a famous jeweler for members of the Russian imperial family.

“Probably, Indiana Jones experienced similar feelings when he found the lost ark,” the head of the jewelry house described his emotions to journalists.

7. Queen Elizabeth II owns three Faberge Imperial Eggs

There are three Faberge imperial Easter eggs in the collection of the British Royal Family: "Colonnade", "Basket of Flowers" and "Mosaic". The flower basket is the most famous masterpiece in this trio. The miniature bouquet of flowers is incredibly realistic!

The British Faberge collection is one of the largest in the world. In addition to the legendary eggs, it contains several hundred masterpieces of jewelry: caskets, frames, animal figurines and personal adornments of members of the Imperial Houses of Russia, Great Britain and Denmark. Despite the size of the British collection, this is only a small part of the 200,000 pieces of jewelry produced by the Faberge jewelry house.

Good evening, dear readers of the Sprint-Answer website. Today on the air of Channel One there is a TV game called. Overview of the game, as well as all questions and answers in the game "Who wants to be a millionaire?" for 10/07/2107 can be viewed by clicking on the link above.

And in this article we will take a closer look at the thirteenth question for the players of the first part of today's TV game. The players refused to answer this question and decided to take the money.

What was inside the first Easter egg made by Carl Faberge?

The correct answer to the question about the first Easter egg made by the famous Carl Faberge is highlighted in blue and bold. In the meantime, some information from Wikipedia.

Faberge eggs - a series of jewelry by Carl Faberge. The series was created between 1885 and 1917. for the Russian imperial family and private buyers. In total, seventy-one copies are known to have been created, of which fifty-four are imperial.

Carl Faberge and his firm's jewelers created the first egg in 1885. It was ordered by Emperor Alexander III as an Easter surprise for his wife Maria Feodorovna. The so-called “Chicken” is covered on the outside with white enamel imitating a shell, and inside, in a “yolk” made of matte gold, is a chicken made of colored gold. Inside the hen, in turn, are hidden a small copy of the imperial crown made of gold with diamonds and a chain with a ruby ​​pendant.

• emerald ring
• portrait of the empress
• wheat grain
• golden hen

The correct answer to the TV game question is: the golden hen.

Easter, Great Day, is the most significant and important holiday in the calendar of the Eastern and Western Slavs, while among the Southern Slavs this is St. George's Day in spring. Traditionally celebrated for three days; however, Easter motifs are widely represented in the mythology and rituals of the entire Bright Week, the Passion Week preceding it (when preparations were made for the holiday) and the Radonitskaya Week following it.

Hello, guests of the Altynai blog! It is very pleasant that on the eve of the day of the Resurrection of Christ you were interested in the question of what was inside the first Easter egg made by Carl Faberge.

The egg-Easter epic of the famous jeweler is an unusually interesting and informative topic. Do you know what you need to do in order to delve into it and get to the bottom of the truth? Believe it or not, you need to look for a woman! Yes, yes, dear friends. Cherchet la femme, as the French would say.

Please don't be surprised. Now we will gradually dot the letter "and". And, in the end, let's look inside the beautiful creation of Faberge.

So who is this lady who inspired the creation of 1 Faberge Easter masterpiece? To whom should we be grateful for the emergence of historical values ​​that still delight us? Yes, this is none other than Maria Fedorovna Romanova. Wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander III.

Historical facts say that the Emperor had the most tender feelings for his wife. And in 1885, before the Great Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, I decided to give her a gift - an Easter egg, similar to the one she admired in her native Denmark. By the way, this egg, which was created in the middle of the 18th century, is still kept in the Danish castle of Rosenborg.

The husband in love entrusted the work on the gift to the masters of the firm of Carl Faberge, whom he had made the jeweler of his Imperial Majesty three years earlier. I set the following task - to make an egg with its own zest and obligatory surprises inside, but take the Danish copy as a basis. So that the gift evokes pleasant memories of youth and girlhood in the Motherland for the dearest wife.

The jeweler fulfilled the king's request and created a magnificent work of art. It went down in history under the name "Chicken". The first Easter egg fascinated the Empress, led to true delight. And since then, the Romanov dynasty has a new tradition - the annual festive Faberge egg as a gift to the reigning empresses.

In total, the Romanovs had fifty-two. Each surprised with originality and pomposity. But the first is without a doubt the most famous. "Kurochka" and now impresses with its elegance and beauty the visitors of the museum of the eminent jeweler, which is located in the northern capital of Russia.

Surprises 1 Faberge Easter Egg

You and I found a woman - an inspirer. Now it's time to answer the most intriguing question - what did she find inside the first Easter egg? What kind of surprises did her husband prepare for her?
In order to experience the solemnity of the situation, let's, for a moment, imagine the picture of presenting a luxurious gift.

Here Maria Fedorovna accepts an egg in lily hands, which is so similar to the real one. It is made of gold, but covered with matte enamel for naturalness. And the sizes are correct. If in millimeters, then 65 in length and 35 in width.

A thin golden border runs through the middle - this is the place of the bayonet connection of the two halves of the shell. The Empress, with a slight movement of her hands, unfolds the halves in different directions. The egg opens, and a golden yolk appears to the lady's astonished gaze.

But that's not all. In the yolk there is a multi-colored golden hen, which looks at the world with ruby ​​eyes and contains the main intrigue. Something tells Maria Fedorovna that the bird has a hinged mechanism in the tail, which will open access to the main surprises.

And now the most joyful moment has come, the apogee of the celebration - a gold miniature imperial crown studded with diamonds and a chain with a pendant topped with a chic ruby ​​have been extracted. Everyone is glad and happy. And the wife who received an incomparable gift, and the husband who gave such pleasure.

The only pity is that the descendants will not be able to contemplate the contents of the first handsome Easter. Both the crown and the chain are gone. Let's hope it's not irreversible. We are inspired by the post-revolutionary history of 1 Easter egg from Faberge.

How "Kurochka" traveled the world for 58 years

The hard times of revolutionary events transferred the first Easter gift from the Anichkov Palace, where it was carefully kept by the reigning dynasty, to the Kremlin Armory. From here it was bought out in 1920 by an English businessman.

From that time until 1978, the egg traveled through private collections in London, Paris, and New York. It is not known where it would be now, if not for the Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg. He bought the first Easter copy and eight others, and returned them to Russia.

The triumphant return of works of art to their homeland allows us to hope that, perhaps, the treasures that were inside the very first egg created by the famous jeweler will soon be found.

Isn't it a beautiful and captivating story? She also encourages creativity in painting eggs for Easter. Me for sure. And you? Subscribe to our blog, learn a lot - a lot of interesting and exciting. In the meantime, until we meet again and have a nice preparation for the Easter holidays!

Luxurious Faberge eggs, decorated with precious stones and metals. We offer some interesting facts about how they appeared and how they are connected with Imperial Russia.

Faberge eggs were made under the direction of Peter Carl Faberge between 1885 and 1917. The first is for Tsar Alexander III, who decided to give his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna, an unusual Easter egg in 1885.

Alexander III with his wife and children

The first Faberge egg, 1885

The first egg is completely different from all subsequent ones: the white enameled “shell” opens, inside is a shiny yellow-gold “yolk”, inside of which is a golden chicken, and inside the chicken is a miniature replica of the diamond imperial crown and a ruby ​​pendant.
The empress was so delighted with the gift that Alexander appointed Faberge "jeweler for a special purpose" and ordered another egg for the next year. After that, Faberge received a team of craftsmen and complete freedom to design all future imperial Easter eggs, which became more and more complex over time. The only requirement was that each egg must be unique and contain a hidden surprise.

The famous Faberge eggs


Some of the most famous Faberge eggs are covered with gem-set diamond mesh. Inside the egg of the Gatchina Palace there is a miniature golden copy of the palace in Gatchina, and many of the eggs have small portraits of members of the royal family.

Egg "Lilies of the Valley", 1898

After the death of Alexander III (November 1, 1894), his son Nicholas II continued to present a Faberge egg every year to his wife Alexandra Feodorovna and his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Faberge was also commissioned to make similar eggs for a number of private individuals, including the Duchess of Marlborough, the Rothschild family and the Yusupovs. In addition, the royal goldsmith was asked to design 12 eggs for the industrialist Alexander Kelch, although only 7 were completed.


Nicholas II with his wife and children

After the revolution of 1917, and then the death of the royal family, about 50 Faberge eggs remained.
The Faberge family was forced to flee Russia after the nationalization of the House of Faberge, which ended their luxury production.

Third Faberge Egg, 1887

Egg "Memory of Azov", 1891

Where are the Faberge eggs now?
Currently, 43 "imperial" Faberge eggs have been preserved, although some of them have lost "surprises".
Ten imperial Easter eggs are now on display in the Kremlin Armory, while others belong to museums and private collections around the world.

In 1927, many eggs were sold to buyers outside of Russia. The second largest collection of Faberge eggs belonged to Malcolm Forbes and was presented in New York. The collection, consisting of 9 eggs and about 180 other Faberge items, was to be auctioned by Sotheby's in February 2004. However, before the auction began, the entire collection was bought by Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg.

Egg "Renaissance", 1894.

Egg "Gatchina Palace", 1901

Egg "Peter the Great", 1903

Egg "Pink Tapestry", 1907

Egg "Order of St. George", 1916

Faberge today
The Fabergé trademark has been sold to various companies over the years, but today it is owned by Fabergé Limited, which makes egg-based jewelry. In 2015, the company announced the Faberge Pearl Egg: the first imperial style egg in over 100 years. It was created in collaboration with the influential Qatari Al-Fardan family, one of the world's most famous pearl collectors.


Stunning design, 39 white pearls, 3305 diamonds and yellow gold details. Inside is a unique gray pearl weighing 12.17 carats, mined by hand from the Persian Gulf. Estimated cost $2 million.
Today, Faberge eggs have become symbols of power and wealth.