2. An Ornate Wooden Portrait Egg
Given to: Elizabeth II, the queen
Given by: Mr. Volodymyr Khandogiy, Ambassador of Ukraine; estimated value: Not specified
While in Buckingham Palace, Volodymyr Khandogiy, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom, gave Queen Elizabeth a lovely picture egg. The picture of Queen Elizabeth on the egg was derived from her well-known 1953 portrait painted by Sir Cecil Beaton. The Queen is seen in the photo sporting her coronation attire.
©WPA Pool/Getty Images An elaborate wooden portrait egg
Ukrainian folk art includes egg painting, and it took two painters a year to create this particular portrait using oil paint and gold leaf. Twenty layers of lacquer were applied by the couple to prevent the egg from fading or flaking. This egg was given to the Queen by Khandogiy as a metaphorical bridge connecting the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
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