History
Painting eggs has been important tradition in heathenism long before Christianity has became state religion in Russia. Egg represented the creation of life and was a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Spring coming was very important part of life for the people, on this occasion boiled and painted egg put on first green grass like a flowers for the god of spring. Also egg was a little sacrifice for over gods.
Later the egg became as a symbol of Christ’s resurrection. One tradition legend says that following the death and resurrection of Jesus, Mary Magdalene came to a banquet given by Emperor Tiberius. Everybody how came to Emperor must to brought some gift for him. Rich people presented to him valuables, poor people presented something that they had Mary Magdalene could brought only plain egg to Emperor Tiberius, she held a it in her hand and exclaimed "Christ is risen!" Caesar laughed, and said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red.
Easter is the most joyful celebration of the Christian faith in Russia, it took on special significance. Easter is not only celebration of Christ rising, it is the time when winter finally is over and spring coming and everything in the world rebirth for a life as Jesus Christ.
Among Easter the faithful present to each over decorated eggs and it is accompanied by the proclamation "Christ is risen!", and the person being addressed would respond "Truly He is risen!" This tradition originated a special kind of folk art grown into jeweller's art.
One of records of creating decorative eggs belong to 1664 when Russian artist Procopiy Ivanov got order to create 170 gilded and painted wooden eggs for tsar's court.
Occurrence of the new materials in Russia, connected with reforms of Peter the First , namely porcelain, glass, papier-mache, promoted development of art of manufacturing of Russian Easter eggs.
The first porcelain easter egg which has reached our time is created by Easter of 1749 by the inventor of Russian porcelain Dmitry Vinogradov. In 1874 brothers Tuliny carved wooden opened eggs.