Russian Porcelain Floral Easter Egg Antique 19th Century Pottery Christ is Risen

This late 19th century Russian porcelain Easter egg features a hand-painted floral bouquet of purple and white flowers with green foliage against a pale blue textured ground.

The opposite side is decorated with the gilded Cyrillic abbreviation XB, standing for Christ is Risen, while the top and bottom are finished with ornate gold scrollwork and dot patterns typical of the Imperial era.

A dark green velvet ribbon is threaded through the hollow centre for hanging.

The tradition of gifting porcelain eggs was established by the Russian Imperial Court in the mid-18th century and continued until the 1917 Revolution. These eggs were commissioned by the Tsars from the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg to be distributed as prestigious gifts to members of the royal family, courtiers, and high-ranking military officers. Each one serves as a lasting ceramic version of the Orthodox tradition of exchanging dyed eggs to celebrate the Resurrection.