Hunted Easter egg worth 2 m £

One of the most valuable jewels from Imperial Russia could be hidden somewhere in Britain, after a mysterious stranger paid for it in cash, 62 years ago.

It is the greatest Easter egg hunt in the world — the search for a 20 million £ egg.

In 1952, a man walked in and spent £1,250 on a Fabergé egg. He paid in cash and was listed as “a stranger”.

The Nécessaire Egg has never been seen again, which makes it hidden somewhere in Britain.

“It’s out there”, said Kieran McCarthy, Wartski’s Fabergé specialist, “I just know it is”.

Only one photograph exists of the egg. The Nécessaire is made from gold chased with rocaille in the Louis XV taste and set with precious gemstones. The interior contains a “surprise of 13 diamond-set toilet articles”.

“I am sure it is still in Britain. It is like an amazing treasure hunt”, said Mr McCarthy. “We don’t know why he paid in cash and wouldn’t leave a name. Maybe it was for his mistress? Most of our clientele in the 1950s would have been English. I am sure it is still in the country. I even thought about going through the phone book and calling every A. Stranger. It would be wonderful if someone had it sitting around somewhere”.

“You would never know it to look at him. He wears the plaid shirts and the jeans and likes fishing”, said Mr McCarthy. “When I saw the egg just sitting on his kitchen counter, it was like finding Tutankhamen in Tesco”.

The magnificent egg was brought to Britain and sold for around 20 million £. It will be on show at Wartski for four days this week — the first time it has appeared in public in 112 years.

Mr. McCarthy is still hoping that the Nécessaire Egg will turn up in the same way. “They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice”, he said. “But I can only hope it does”.