(Decorated Eggs In Period)

   I always assumed that decorated Ukrainian eggs (Pysanka, plural Pysanki) would go back to times earlier then 1600 AD. However, once I set out to find some documentation about it I found that it was about as hard as finding solid information on medieval Ukrainian costume.

   Most of the books written in English on the subject state that the making of Pysanki using wax resist technique goes back to a time before Christ. Some of the symbolism does - that's certain, since the same designs can be found on Trypillian pottery, and jewelry found in Archeological digs. Eggs, however don't usually last that long in the ground - so we need to look at other things from the same time...

Were they decorating eggs? - Yes, and not just in the Ukraine. There are a number of written references to how eggs were decorated in period: See Period Decorated Eggs page

Were they using wax resist as a technique on other items? - Well, maybe and possibly not initially in the Ukraine. 

Batik is a method of using wax or paste when dyeing fabric: Page In Progress

Wax resist ceramics have been done almost as long as ceramics have been done. Wax blocks leaks in low fired ceramic cups & mugs (low fired clay tend to be porous), so coating the inside of a mug with wax or oil allows it to last longer. My understanding is that it was not uncommon to coat the inside of your pottery with wax or oil in period. Wax also stops glaze from sticking to the ceramic, so it is used on the bottom of a item to stop the piece from sticking to the kiln. It can also be used to paint a design on the pottery before glazing, thus leaving the waxed area of the pottery blank after glazing & firing. Page In Progress

So did they? Well there is hints at evidence that they did, but as for decisive proof - I have none yet. And it will be another thing for me to try to find on an eventual journey to the Ukraine.