PreservedUpdated 9/17/2026
Imperial Bay Tree Egg
Made by House of Fabergé1911Moscow, Russia
The Bay Tree Egg — a nephrite-and-enamel tree whose leaves conceal a singing mechanical bird, a homage to eighteenth-century automata. Part of the nine-egg Forbes group acquired in 2004.
Provenance
1911
Presented by Tsar Nicholas II
confirmed
2004
Purchased from the Forbes collection (New York Times)
confirmed
2026
Digitally preserved in Relic
confirmed
Current Custodian
Moscow, Russia
Access Matrix
- Digital viewingpublic
- Additional photographsby request
- Remote video inspectionavailable
- Research visitowner approval
- Temporary research loancase by_case
- Museum exhibition loanavailable
- Scientific samplingnot permitted
- Commercial licensingcontact owner
Record Metadata
CategoryDecorative Arts
MaterialsGold, nephrite, enamel, gemstones; clockwork singing bird
Dimensions27.9 cm height
ConditionMuseum condition; mechanism intact
Digital Record
24 high-res images (8,192 × 6,144)
3D Mesh / Photogrammetry
Precise digital measurements
Doc. Score: 90/100Scanned 8/30/2026
Cite this object
Relic Archive. (1911). Imperial Bay Tree Egg [Object record]. Relic Object RL-1911-007054.