Easter eggs in Țara Bârsei region
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The folk artisan, Mr. Ion Mănăilescu is from Săcele, Brasov County, and carries on the craft of ?traditionally decorated eggs in dye bath in Țara Bârsei region?. The artisan learned this craft from his grandmother, who used to ask him, back when he was a child, to help her prepare the dyes, to decorate the Easter eggs and to choose the patterns. Being impressed by this technique, the artisan wanted to carry on this technique and pass it on to future generations.
The egg and the area
?I decorate eggs just like they used to do it 100 years ago. The patterns are from the Bran, Poiana Mărului, Făgăraș and the Seven Villages areas, i.e. the former Săcele. They are different in each area depending on the colour. Usually, there are three colours used, the beige colour of the egg being considered a fourth colour. We usually use yellow, red and black, in the Bran and Șcheiul Brașovului areas. Red and black are used in Făgăraș and Poiana Mărului. The red ones ? just one colour ? belong to the Seven Villages and to the Sibiu area?, told us Mr. Ion Mănăilescu.
Stages
The first used stage is emptying, washing and degreasing; the second stage ? writing he patterns with pen and bee wax (not every wax can be used); the third stage consists in the dye baths, namely three baths, and the last stage is washing off the wax.
The applied patterns are the ones with simple frames, dividing into fields, and the ones with double frames, which are the same as the ones on the traditional costume.
Documentation and creation
?I?m glad that this custom is preserved and still performed nowadays. I come with the custom of the area. In order to perform authentic patterns, I have done a lot of research to transfer on the egg the precise pattern found in the relevant document. The information I have from my grandmother and the one found in museums lead to the decoration of eggs using traditional techniques in dye bath. The result is spectacular. The entire mastership is presented in fairs and exhibits and I am glad that it is more and more successful?, also told us the artisan Ion Mănăilescu.
Contact details: 0770.869.530