Egg decorating

Egg decorating is the art or craft of decorating eggs. Any bird egg can be used, but generally the larger and stronger the eggshell is, the more favoured it will be by decorators.

Goose, duck or hens' eggs are usually blown, i.e. the content of the egg is removed. The egg is sometimes sculpted, otherwise decorated in a number of different techniques.

Some eggs, eg. emu eggs are so large and strong that the shells may be carved without breaking. Decorations on emu eggs take advantage of the contrast in colours between the dark green mottled outside of the shell, and the contrasting shell-underlay.

The renowned Russian artist and jeweller Faberge made exquisitely decorated precious metal and gemstone eggs for the Russian Court. These eggs resembled standard decorated eggs, but they were made from gold and precious stones.