Gifts of Grandeur: The Sandringham Pig, 1907

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Courtesy of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II

In 1907, King Edward VII commissioned Carl Fabergé to create a collection of miniature animal figures of precious and semi-precious stones for his wife, Queen Alexandra, who enjoyed collecting these little jeweled beasties. The collection was meant for display in Sandringham House and, as such, is known as The Sandringham Commission.

Among the lot, one of the most interesting is this figure of aventurine quartz and rose-cut diamonds which depicts a bemused pig. I wonder if Fabergé took some editorial license.