Golden Egg with Hen

This golden egg was made in France around 1720. It was a present from Charlotte d’Orléans to Caroline Matilda of Great Britain.

The egg was passed down from Queen Marie Sophie Frederikke (married to Frederik VI) to Queen Louise. It can be separated into five parts (ivory egg shell, gold egg shell, hen, crown, and ring) and also had a practical use, as scented water could be kept in the holder. It is not unlikely that the egg may have served as an inspiration for the Russian crown jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé’s famous eggs, which his company produced in the period 1885-1917.