Hand-Painted Easter Eggs from Poland, Dazzle with Color

One of the best parts of collecting is being able to pass on special ethnic articles to the next generation.

Polish artists near Krakow, in southern Poland, turn out incredibly colorful and detailed hand-painted eggs. They are called "pisanki," also often spelled "pysanky." 

The Polish pisanki differ markedly in design from Ukrainian eggs. The Ukrainian artists use wax and dyes to make their "pysanky" eggs and the designs they use are much more geometric.

Because of having Polish roots, the hand painted wooden pisanki eggs are preferred around our house.  There are almost no two "pisanki" eggs alike. It's amazing to hold an egg in the palm of one's hand and examine the intricate detail that has gone into it.

The eggs are made from wood so they will last for generations.  Around here, the large pisanki eggs adorn the kitchen table in a glass dish. 

Luckily, at yard sales, smaller versions of the eggs have also been found. They are in a little dish on a downstairs counter. The plate below is filled with "little" pisanki eggs. See? They are just as adorable as the big ones!

Every spring, it's exciting to bring out the pisanki eggs, once again, to help celebrate Easter.  The talent of so many Polish artists has resulted in truly magnificent and colorful art.