The Winter Egg by Fabergé is displayed at Christie's auction rooms in London on Nov. 27.

A rare crystal and diamond Fabergé egg crafted for Russia’s ruling family before it was toppled by revolution shattered records Tuesday as it sold at auction for £22.9-million (about $42-million).

The Winter Egg, which was compared to the iconic Mona Lisa , was just one of seven of the opulent ovoids remaining in private hands, Christie’s London auction house said.

The 10-centimetre-tall egg is made from finely carved rock crystal, covered in a delicate snowflake motif wrought in platinum and 4,500 tiny diamonds. It opens to reveal a removable tiny basket of bejewelled quartz flowers symbolizing spring.

The sale price, which included a buyer’s premium, topped the nearly $26-million paid at a 2007

See Full Page