The Bay Tree Egg

Each spring, I go back to the Faberge eggs and marvel at their sparkle and the grandeur as much as for the imagination that turned tiny treasures into miniature worlds. I also choose my favourite one and every year I see one I love just as much as the one I thought was my favourite the year before!

‍

Have you seen the Bay Tree Egg? Made in 1911 for Tsar Nicholas II, this Imperial Easter egg was a gift for his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. From a distance, it might appear to be topiary in a pot—an elegant bay tree made of nephrite jade, planted in an urn of jewelled white enamel. But, as with all Fabergé creations, the magic lies in the surprise.

Nestled within the branches are golden leaves, delicate fruit made from amethyst, citrine and rubies, and—hidden behind the leaves—a tiny lever disguised as a piece of fruit. When pressed, a beautifully feathered songbird rises from the top of the egg, flaps its wings, turns its head, opens its beak, and sings. All this, in a sculpture just over 11cm tall.

It’s a marvel not just of beauty, but of mechanical ingenuity. The little bird’s movement and sound were powered by a hidden mechanism made by the Swiss firm Rochat, famed for automata. That such a tiny creation could contain such life-like motion is, quite simply, astonishing. What I love most is the idea that it looked like a potted tree—a familiar thing, quietly sitting on a side table or in a conservatory—and yet it held a magical secret. There’s something rather charming about that. Not all treasures wear their sparkle on the outside.

A Garden of Imagination

The Bay Tree Egg reminds me why I love nature-inspired jewellery. While I don’t work in nephrite or hide songbirds in my necklaces (yet!), I do try to capture a similar feeling—of noticing beauty in the everyday and making it last.

The Through the Garden Gate collection was inspired by those joyful spring moments in the garden—new buds and leaves, and the unexpected hum of a bee. It’s more about the stories we find in petals, patterns and plants.

And if the Bay Tree Egg is about delighting someone with a hidden song, then my Pocket Treasures are about delighting someone with a little memory tucked into a necklace or charm—a found button, a lucky pebble, a cast of something ordinary made extraordinary.

The Joy of Tiny Surprises

It’s easy to think of Fabergé’s work as lavish and unattainable, and yes—Imperial eggs aren't exactly popping up in Norfolk gardens. But at their heart, these eggs were about storytelling, tradition, and surprise. And that’s something I think handmade jewellery still holds.

When I design something like the  or a pair of , I’m not thinking about grandeur—I'm thinking about how a tiny object can carry a bit of wonder with it. A reminder of someone you love. A walk through a garden. A moment of quiet joy.

Which Would You Choose?

If you were gifted a Fabergé egg, what would your surprise be? A songbird, like the Bay Tree? A tiny locket? A message from someone dear? I’d love to know what your egg would hold.

And if you’re looking for a meaningful gift this Easter, there’s a little garden of treasures waiting right here in the shop—and every piece comes with a story, not just a sparkle.

‍