LONDON, October 4 (RIA Novosti) - An earlier unseen Faberge egg from the Rothschild family's collection could sell for a record $18 million at Christie's Russian week in London, to be held from November 26-29.

The gold and enamel egg is signed by Karl Faberge, Russia's main jewelry maker in the late 19th-early 20th century, and is dated 1902. The egg is perched on a stand and has a diamond-set cockerel that pops up, flips its wings, and nods its head and crows every hour.

The piece is a rare example of the eggs created by the Faberge workshop for private clients. These eggs were produced to the same standards as the famous Easter Eggs commissioned by the Russian Imperial family. The egg due to be auctioned at Christie's is estimated at 6-9 million pounds ($12-$18 million).

It was presented to Baron Edouard de Rothschild and his fiancee by the banker's older sister.

Anthony Phillips, international director of silver and Russian artworks for Christie's, said the discovery of the "masterpiece" was the most exciting of his 40-year career.

"We expect this remarkable object to be of profound interest to private collectors and institutions from around the world," Phillips added.

Before the London auction, the egg will be displayed in Moscow on October 19-20, along with other jewelry, as well as paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Rubens, and Modigliani, Christie's said.

Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg bought nine Imperial eggs and some 190 other Faberge items at a Sotheby's auction in 2004. The purchase was estimated by Russian experts at $100-$120 million.