Retiree Hajah Aishah binti Haji Abdul Majid is keeping busy with the relaxing activity of egg decoration.
She said egg decoration has been practised for centuries all over the world. It is “the art form or craft” that became a symbol of opulence when Faberge eggs were created in Petesburg, Russia between 1885–1917.
Hajah Aishah said her interest in egg decoration began in 2001 as she finds the craft intriguing and beautiful.
“It all started when I visited my sister-in-law, Datin Hajah Saidah who has a collection of goose eggshells painted in rich acrylic colours and adorned with Swarovski crystals and rhinestones,” she said.
Her sister-in-law taught her on how to empty and paint eggshells. While the process was tedious, the result was so satisfying that she decided to turn it into a hobby.
Hajah Aishah said she draws inspirations from the works of individuals, both locally and abroad, often through books, egg art classes and social media.
On the classes she enrolled with her friends, she said, “We started from the beginner’s level until we completed the programme. We even reached a level where we can now teach others!” The wealth she has acquired from her egg art journey “cannot be measured in dollars but rather in the friends I’ve made both locally and internationally”. To date, she has over 100 collections of egg art using ostrich, emu, rhea, goose, turkey, duck, quail and chicken eggshells. She has also been getting requests to supply eggs for weddings and engagements. She said although it is an expensive and delicate hobby, requiring a lot of time and patience, it is worth the efforts as the end results are often fulfilling. – Lyna Mohamad
