Easter Art

Painting and decorating Easter eggs

Decorating eggs for Easter

We all love our chocolate Easter eggs, but did you know that there is a great tradition of painting, dyeing and decorating hen, duck and goose eggs at Easter time?

Can you tell from the flags which countries are famous for decorating eggs at Easter? Clue: They are all in Eastern Europe!

Psanky: Decorated eggs from Psanky are decorated Easter Ukraine eggs from the Ukraine in
Eastern Europe. Traditional psanky carry mythical and Christian symbols The egg itself symbolizes Christ and his Resurrection, and the rebirth of new life in spring. Wavy lines indicate the waters of forgiveness. Circles can mean the sun or moon. Those that circle the egg remind us of eternal life. Triangles represent the Trinity

Symbols in psanky

Crosses represent Christianity or the crucifixion. Fish represent Christ and the nourishment of the spirit. Sheep point toward the Good Shepherd. Horses, reindeer, and deer promise prosperity. Birds, especially birds in flight, represent freedom. Fruits, grains, and baskets represent fertility. Pine needles mean for health and youth. Other plants stand for happiness, joy (especially when combined with bright colors), and plenty.

Faberge eggs
The great tradition of giving eggs for Easter goes back to ancient times. In Russia, the tsars always presented painted eggs to their people they trusted. These eggs are called Faberge eggs, and the company that created them made eggs decorated from gold, silver and precious stones. The first Faberge egg was produced in 1884 for the tzar Alexander III. He wanted a very special egg to be made and decorated for his wife, the tzarina.

The history of Faberge eggs

Faberge eggs are the most famous jewelled eggs made by Peter Carl Faberge and his assistants between 1885 and 1917. In 1883 the Russian Czar, Alexander, commissioned Faberge to make a special Easter gift for his wife, the Empress Marie. The first Faberge egg was an egg within an egg. It had an outside shell of platinum and enameled white which opened to reveal a smaller gold egg. The smaller egg, in turn, opened to display a golden chicken and a jeweled replica of the Imperial crown. The first Faberge egg, 1885.

The history of Faberge eggs

The Faberge eggs are made of precious metals or hard stones decorated with combinations of enamel and gem stones. The term "Faberge Egg" has become a synonym of luxury and the eggs are regarded as masterpieces of the jeweler's art. From 1885, the eggs were produced almost every year.

Fifty Imperial Faberg Easter eggs were made and presented to Czars Alexander III and Nicholas II of Russia. A further two eggs were planned but not delivered, the Constellation and Karelian Birch eggs of 1917.
The Imperial eggs enjoyed such fame that Faberg made some 15 known eggs for private clients. Among them is a series of 7 eggs made for the industrialist Alexander Kelch.

Faberge eggs
An open Faberge egg, showing a surprise inside!

The Rose Trellis Faberge egg,1907.

The Lilies of the Valley egg

The Lilies of the Valley Egg was an 1898 gift from the Russian tsar Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. This Faberge egg is enameled in a lush rose-pink against a gold ground, and supported by multicolored gold diamond-set leaves. From this quadruped metal base, the egg itself appears to have been dropped into a patch of lily-of-the-valley, with green enamel leaves, engraved gold stems, and pearl flowers, the petals marked by tiny rose-cut diamonds.

More Faberge eggs

The Fifteenth Anniversary Egg, a Faberge Imperial Easter Egg presented by Tsar Nicholas II to his wife the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna as a gift for Easter in 1911.

The Gatchina Palace Egg, 1901

When opened, the Egg reveals a miniature replica of the Gatchina Palace, the Empress's principle residence outside St. Petersburg Faberge's workmaster, Mikhail Perkhin, was so detailed in creating this egg that you can see the palace, discern cannons, a flag, a statue of Paul I (17541801), and elements of the landscape, including the trees.

The most expensive Easter egg ever!!!

Winter Egg 1913 Gift from Nicholas II to Maria Fyodorovna Height: 10.2 cm Cost when bought in 1913: 24,600 rubles. Price when last sold at auction in 1994:

$9.58 million!
Composition of the egg: the body is set with 1,300 rose-diamonds, the borders with 360 brilliants, and the small basket with 1,378 rose-diamonds.

Have a go!
On your table you will find a hard boiled egg, some acrylic paints, some wax crayons, some oil pastels, pencils, ribbons and an egg shaped template [http://milliande.smugmug.com/p hotos/494715989_eiRmZX3.jpg] Draw your design and add some colour on your template, and when you are happy with this plan, lightly sketch the design on to your egg. Decorate and paint your egg, and then we will work together to attach ribbons etc.