Maria Vladimirovna Chatelain (née Ershova) was the daughter of Major General Vladimir Ivanovich Ershov, who served as Moscow provincial Marshal of Nobility and Governor of Orenburg. From 1898 to 1910, she was lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Russian Court. In 1910, she married Vladimir Chatelain (1864-1935), who was manager of the court of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich. After the Revolution of 1917, the couple emigrated and lived in England and France.

The drawing of a very similar egg-pendant is featured in the Fabergé design album from the workshop of Henrik Wigström (p. 187), which was sold at Christie's, London, 2 December 2025, lot 48.