LONDON (Reuters) -A Faberge Imperial Winter Egg, commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II as an Easter gift to his mother, heads to auction next week where it could set a record for the third time with a price estimate of more than $26 million.

Carved in rock crystal and adorned with rose-cut diamond-set platinum snowflake decorations, the Winter Egg is considered one of Faberge’s finest creations for the Imperial family, according to Christie’s.

Sitting on a crystal base made to look like melting ice, the egg is engraved inside with a frost design. It was designed to open up to reveal a surprise – an intricately made bouquet of flowers.

The egg is on offer at the December 2 “The Winter Egg and Important Works by Faberge from a Princely Collection” sale during Christie’s “Classic Week” of aucti

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