Man Held After Trying to Sell Rare Faberge Eggs, Police Say
An Encino man was being held Monday in Santa Monica Jail after allegedly trying to sell $400,000 in stolen goods, including nine rare Faberge eggs, at a weekend antiques show.
Santa Monica police said an antiques dealer at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium alerted authorities after Sam Gold, 32, tried to sell him a large, bejeweled Faberge egg for $2,500--far less than it was worth.
“He immediately became suspicious because Gold didn’t know the value of the large egg,” Sgt. Robert Oliver said.
Police, who arrested Gold on Saturday, recovered the Faberge egg and eight smaller ones, along with jewelry and coins stolen Jan. 29 from an antiques shop on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, Oliver said.
Gold was being held in lieu of $2,500 bail on suspicion of possession of stolen property.
The jeweled eggs were first crafted by Carl Faberge for the Russian Imperial Court of Nicholas II in the late 1800s.
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