An Egg at Easter: A Folklore Study

Author:  Venetia Newall

Edition: 4th

Format:  Hardcover (missing dust jacket)

Pages:   423        

Language:  English

Illustrations: 24 color plates

Publisher:  Routledge & Kegan Paul  (London, 1984)

Availability: out of print

Acquired: via acquaintance

ISBN:  N/A

TL/DR: Fascinating book about egg decoration around the world

Strictly speaking, this is not a pysanka book. It is much more inclusive than that, and could be titled “Everything you always wanted to know about Easter Eggs and their traditions.”  The book is encyclopedic in scope and folkloric in nature.  Newall begins with a chapter on creation myths and eggs, continues through “Sacrifice,” “Witchcraft and Magic,” “Bird and Egg,” “Fertility,” and “Purity.”  She then discusses the Christian themes of “Resurrection,” “Christian Charms,” and “Christian Eggs.”

Newall discusses decorated eggs from around the world in chapters on “Red Eggs,” “Decorated Easter Eggs” and “Artificial Techniques.” She finishes by discussing Easter Egg traditions in “The Egg Tree” and “Easter Eggs Pastimes and Games.”

Interspersed are 24 color plates, which picture not only the bird man of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Easter egg traditions, but many decorated eggs from around the world.  There are porcelain, glass and lacquer eggs, wooden eggs, and all sorts of real eggs.  They come from many countries, European as well as mid-eastern and Asian.  It is a grand tour of egg art.

One of my favorite plates is pictured below.  It is of English Pace eggs,  technique I’d like to try out.  These eggs were decorated by placing real flowers and leaves against an egg, wrapping it tightly with cloth, and then dyeing the lot. In Ukraine these are called lystovky.

This book is a “must have” for anyone who cares about the history and tradition of egg decoration.

Colour Plate XXII  English Pace eggs with plant imprints and natural-colour dyes.

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