Pysanky Ornament #07
Goose Egg – 3.5” Height. Red, white, and yellow orbs float on a black background on this larger duck egg.
Goose Egg – 3.5” Height. Red, white, and yellow orbs float on a black background on this larger duck egg.
Goose Egg – 3.5” Height. Red, white, and yellow orbs float on a black background on this larger duck egg.
Each egg has four coats of varnish on it, which helps to strengthen it. Much like a glass ornament, these are fragile and should be handled carefully. Each egg is one-of-a-kind and any design imperfections are considered part of its unique personality.
⫷⫸⫷⫸⫷⫸
Pysanky is an egg that has been dyed using a masking wax method. Its name derives from the Ukrainian verb “pysaty,” meaning “to write.” Beeswax is warmed and used to draw a mask on the emptied egg, which is then dipped in dye which colors only the areas that don’t have wax on them. That cycle is continued many more times until the artist is satisfied. The wax is then melted off to reveal the design underneath and the egg is varnished.
Ukrainians have been decorating eggs for countless generations, going back to pagan times. There is a ritualistic element involved—a yearning for the gods, for the sun and stars, a magical realm. Modern times have seen the egg continue to represent rebirth, growth and hope.