Painted wooden egg, Russian, 1897

A painted and gilded wood egg decorated with religious scenes

Given by Sir Eric Maclagan, C.B.E.

In a memo to Ralph Edwards, Keeper of the Department of Furniture and Woodwork, dated 7 May 1942, Sir Eric Maclagan, Director of the V&A, wrote:

'I suspect this ought to be described as an Easter Egg rather than a case for an Easter Egg. It if did hold anything, it was probably in the nature of a separate gift.

It is perhaps worth while to note the date; it was presented to my father, Archbishop Maclagan, in Moscow at Easter 1897; the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, which was attended by a Russian Archbishop, the invitation to whom was carried officially by my father.

The saint on the opposite side of the egg to the painting of The Ressurrection is St. Alexander Nevski.'

(V&A Registered File MA/1/M208).

According to a note in the Register of the Department of Furniture and Woodwork:

'On the outside is shown St. Alexander; and an iconic representation of the Resurrection, with the Harrowing of Hell and Christ treading upon The gates of hell. On the right side of Christ are ranged the Patriarchs, on the other side the Saints of the New Dispensation. On either side of the Risen Christ are figures of Adam and Eve. On the right side, below, is a figure of Christ coming from the tomb and a figure of a soldier asleep. Inside is an inscription in Russian: “From the Old Ritualists of Moscow on receiving Priesthood”.

Information furnished 1st May 1947 by Mr. C.G.E. Brunt [?]

(Department of Furniture and Woodwork, Register, 1942, p. 362).

This object was acquired by William Dalrymple Maclaggan (1826-1910), archbishop of York and father of Sir Eric Maclagan (1879-1951), seventh director of the V&A (1924-44). In 1897, Archbishop Maclaggan, accompanied by W. J. Birkbeck, made a private visit to Russia, where he was received by the authorities of the Russian church as well as Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. It was during this visit that Archbishop Maclagan was presented with this Easter egg, which his son subsequently inherited and presented to the Museum.

W.6:1-1942