A mother-of-four in Bahrain has cultivated a unique art technique using ostrich, emu, goose and chicken eggshells.

Pakistani kindergarten teacher Shamaila Basit has been perfecting her hobby for the past 17 years, after she was first introduced to the art form by a Chinese mentor in Qatar, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

In between teaching and raising her four children she spends her free time carving, cutting, bleaching, painting and assembling ornamental pieces that are not dissimilar to Faberge eggs.

Initially she simply displayed her work at home, but her mantelpiece has become so crowded that she has decided to start selling her hand crafted products.

“The eggs are similar to Faberge eggs, which were given to royalty in the late 19th Century, but obviously not as high end with all the emeralds and jewels – although all the stands and metal used is gold plated,” Basit told the GDN.

“Until now I have only sold them to family and friends of family when I go on vacation to the US to visit my relatives or to Pakistan to visit my in-laws.

“It is something that is totally new in Bahrain. I haven’t even arranged for a platform where they can be sold, as they are so delicate.

“What I have done is just put them up on my personal Facebook page and created an Instagram account just for them.”

Each piece can take from two weeks to more than a month to decorate and the finished articles do not go cheap.

“I don’t think it will be an easy beginning as people do like them, but when they see the prices which can reach as high as BD120 ($315) people find it hard to justify it – thinking that they are paying all this money for an egg.

“But it is not just an egg when I am done, it’s a piece of art that can take over a month to complete.”

Basit explained that because the art form occupies such a niche in Bahrain, she had to import specialist carving and cutting equipment from the UK.

Meanwhile, the eggs themselves are ordered from a dealer in the US, who blows out the eggs and sterilises them so they can be shipped overseas – but only after they are carefully wrapped to survive the trip intact.

“The most expensive pieces are made with ostrich eggs and they take about a month of work to complete.

“I have turned an ostrich egg into (ornamental) chairs, functional clocks and even a carriage, which I am selling for BD120.

“It takes a long time to cut and usually I will go through several specialised blades with just one egg.

“Every egg will also have at least six coats of paint and has to be dried using a specialised egg rotator, which takes a long time in between coats but is essential for a perfect finish.

“My mantle and glass cases are now full and I have so many ideas that I want to try, but I won’t have any place to put them so I have decided to sell them.

“I have 22 pieces that are ready for sale.”

However, Basit added that she was always looking to expand her horizons and was willing to take orders for custom pieces for people with specific designs in mind.

Her pieces sell for as low as BD20 for a decorative chicken eggshell, but any item that requires carving costs at least BD60 because it involves far more work. - TradeArabia News Service