Is it true that a group of journalists stole the Empire State Building for only one day? How did police catch the thief who stole one of Norway’s most famous paintings? Has anyone found a Stradivarius? Stradivarius was one of the most famous concert violinists of the 20th century.
Everyone knows that famous art and historical artifacts are some of the most valuable works, but what’s the real reason for stealing the most expensive items on earth? Below, you’ll learn about some of the world’s most expensive items and the dangerous operations involved in stealing them.
The story of the Fabergé eggs started with Czar Alexander III in 1885 when he wanted to gift his wife, Maria Feodorovna, something special for Easter. He sought the help of Peter Carl Fabergé, who was an expert goldsmith at a nearby jewelry store. Fabergé then created a white egg with a golden yolk inside. A golden hen on gold straw sat inside the yolk, while inside the hen was a diamond crown and a ruby pendant. This became known as the Hen Egg and was the first of 50 unique and individualized Fabergé eggs that were created each year by Alexander III and his son, Nicholas II.
Nicholas II continued having eggs delivered until 1917, when the Bolshevik Revolution led him to leave the throne. His family was killed by the Bolsheviks in 1918 and the eggs were packed and stored at the Kremlin in Moscow. After 10-20 years had passed and the Russian economy declined, the eggs were sold to international buyers.
Since being sold, the eggs now sit in different museums and displays around the world, though the whereabouts of seven of the eggs still remain unknown. Each egg is said to be worth $1 million and remains as one of the most valuable items ever stolen.
