Eastern European Easter eggs, also known as decorated eggs or pysanky, are a part of a centuries-old tradition that has its origins in the pagan religions of pre-Christian Slavic peoples. Decorated eggs were used for protection, as harbingers of good luck, as fortune telling devices, and as symbols of birth, renewal, springtime, and fertility. After the conversion to Christianity, pysanky were given new meaning, and they came to symbolize rebirth (of Christ), eternity, and the Christian Easter celebrations. Decorated eggs have inspired modern artists and artisans, and their creations deepen the already complex dialogue surrounding the practice of decorating eggs.
Faberge Eggs
A modern interpretation of decorated eggs is familiar to most decorated egg enthusiasts. Faberge eggs were created by the Faberge workshops to appeal to royalty and the very wealthy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These eggs, created from precious stones and metals, and decorated with enamel work, were presented to members of the Russian royal family every Easter as gifts from the tsar. Many of these eggs are in museums or private collections.
Less expensive eggs not made to custom specifications and meant to capture the public interest in the original Faberge eggs have flooded markets. These eggs, made of etched glass or basic, affordable materials make the idea of Faberge eggs available to a wider customer base. However, the authentic Faberge eggs and limited edition knockoffs should not be confused with one another; the two are drastically different in quality and value.
Eggshell Art
The Slovenian artist Franc Grom uses the same amount of care, preparation, and patience of traditional decorated egg artists to create lace-like designs on fragile eggshells. He drills tiny holes in the egg shells, using light and shadow - instead of dye and wax - to cover the curved surface of the eggs.
In a similar vein, other eggshell sculptors create portraits, custom-made commemorative eggs, or eggs that feature wildlife or general home décor themes.
Painted Eggs
Other decorated egg artists paint eggs using traditional techniques. These artists, however, might stray from traditional patterns to create brighter, more fanciful decorated egg art. Some artists avoid the wax-and-dye technique in favor of oil paints or other media to cover the surface of eggs. Artists produce eggs both as folk art and as fine art; collectors can find both in shops and galleries and on the web.
While the pysanky that were so important to the pagan Slavs served important ritualistic and religious purposes, modern decorated eggs are created as novelty items, to showcase an artist's skill, to cater to a specific clientèle, or to recall traditional egg decorating techniques.
