Kraslice - Czech Easter Eggs
Kraslice is a hand-painted egg made for the Easter Sunday tradition. Girls would boil, decorate, and deliver eggs to boys on Easter. These eggs were often coated in intricate geometric designs, floral motifs, or snowflake patterns and presented bold colors. Some eggs that had more intricate artwork had the yolk blown out to better preserve the egg as they were used in rituals, as decorations, or sold in markets. There were many methods used in decoration: beeswax, onion peels, straw, watercolor, and flower petals.
The most popular color would be red, which was obtained from onion skins. Eggs were often boiled with botanicals to not only cook the egg but also achieve color. Other colors included:
Dark red or brown onion skins
Black: oak or alder bark or walnut shells
Gold: apple tree bark or marigold flowers
Violet: mallow flower petals
Green: rye shoots or periwinkle leaves
Pink: beat juice
Some eggs were also layered in beeswax. This process stopped color from reaching the surface of the egg, which allowed for overlaying different patterns or colors. The wax would be peeled off to reveal the intricate pattern afterward. Wax-type eggs were often believed to have magic protection and were often used for ritualistic purposes as they symbolized spring, protection, and fertility.
ARTIST
Unknown
TITLE
Kraslice
DATE
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MEDIUM
Eggs decorated in bold colors and intricate patterns or designs
DIMENSIONS
Unknown
CREDIT LINE
CURRENT LOCATION
Czech Center Museum 4920 San Jacinto St. Houston, TX 77004
Third Floor
ACCESSION NUMBER
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PROVENANCE
Unknown