The pelican – which symbolises self sacrifice and maternal love – was a personal emblem of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. Fabergé used the pelican as the theme for the Imperial Easter Egg made for her in 1898. He was particularly interested in ornithology and produced carvings of a huge variety of birds. This sculpture is set with ruby eyes and gold feet. A pelican was purchased for £20 by Grand Duke Michael from Fabergé’s London branch in November 1915 and described as ‘pelican Beloretzky quartz’; it is presumed to have been given as a Christmas present to King George V or Queen Mary. According to Birbaum’s memoirs, Beloretz quartz was used regularly by Fabergé and was noted for its translucence and pink tinge.