In the weeks leading up to Easter, the city of New York played host to the world’s biggest egg hunt, practicing the tradition in a bold way: The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt. Over 260 large-scale eggs created by well-known artists, designers, brands, and architects such as Zaha Hadid, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Leo Villareal, Tracey Emin, and Jeff Koons were placed throughout the city’s boroughs, encouraging hunters to use mobile phone apps to share their finds.
The hunt raises awareness and funds for the Elephant Family charity and Studio in a School. Apps available through iTunes and Google Play hint at the egg locations. When scavengers checked in at each egg, they became eligible to win one of the three pendants by timeless Fabergé. Over the weekend, the eggs went on view altogether at Rockefeller Center. Tomorrow, a live auction of the eggs will take place at Sotheby’s. Online, the auction is open through April 26 on Paddle8.
Leo Villareal’s egg
Last Tuesday, Audi and the Fabergé Big Egg Hunt celebrated one particular egg designed by artist Leo Villareal at an intimate dinner in New York’s Riverpark restaurant. The “Cosmic Egg” utilizes LED technology found in Audi headlights to create a dynamic light display in the interior of the egg. It fades from pink to purple, to a brilliant white sparkling finale. The dinner was hosted by Waris Ahluwalia and Mark Shand (the man behind the big hunt), and attended by guests like Sydie Lansing, Princess Eugenie, and Johan Lindeberg.
In the past, the hunt, which donates 100% of its proceeds to charity, has raised over a million dollars benefiting the charities of choice. Shand hopes to break that record this year.
Leo Villareal’s egg
