Alexander Ivanov had originally planned to show his treasure trove of objets d’art in Moscow but he has chosen, instead, the German spa town of Baden-Baden.
Ivanov, 46, believes his 3000-piece collection is worth about $1.5 billion at today’s prices.
It includes the 1902 Fabergé egg with clock made as an engagement gift to Baron Edouard de Rothschild, bought for £9m at Christie’s in 2007 – he says he has since been offered $40m for it.
The museum opens on May 9 and admission is €20.
Viktor Vekselberg, owner of nine Imperial eggs, who acquired the Malcolm Forbes collection prior to its appearance at auction in 2004, has plans for museums in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
