Vintage porcelain egg (1980s) with "Queen Victoria" decoration in blue, made by the prestigious Herend factory

This splendid porcelain egg, entirely hand-painted, is a creation of the renowned Hungarian house "Herend," one of the oldest and most celebrated European manufacturers. The VA decoration on this egg received the first prize at the London Universal Exhibition in 1851 and was named after Queen Victoria of England, who commissioned a complete table service for herself. This service is still used by the English royal family today. Each decorative motif, including leaves, flowers, and ornaments, is created freehand by one of the approximately 800 painters at Herend. Their extraordinary skill transforms these porcelain objects into unique masterpieces, pure poetry for lovers of beauty.

The egg is a significant symbol with a rich history. It represents rebirth and is a wish for prosperity, fertility, and abundance. It also holds cosmic symbolism. With no edges, it is seen as having no beginning or end, making it a symbol of divine perfection. "Omne vivum ex ovo" — all life comes from an egg. Mammals develop from a fertilized egg, and the placenta in the womb takes the shape of an egg. Fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians hatch from eggs, and even plants sprout from seeds, which are also ovoid in shape. This explains the profound importance attributed to this "container of life" throughout the ages.