The tin-egg curio collection

A collection spanning three centuries

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Collection Categorised In Terms Of Illustrations

 

In order to categorise my collection, I have arranged the eggs into various groups.

 

 

 


From Small To Big

Making a start to the collection was easy. Since 1984 when I first found about these collectors items, I could easily find these chicken egg sized tin eggs at flea markets. The tin factory "Siegerist" was also a fruitful and efficient supplier. From the very beginning I integrated both small and large tin eggs into my collection. Due to the varying sizes, I have decided to show the measurements of the egg pictured in centimeters on the photographs.


From Old To New

The selection of the picture on an egg, as well as the finish or format of it, often gives a clue to the time of the egg's production. Sometimes a date is even stamped or painted onto the egg. It seems that the oldest eggs are those with very abstract themes. As far as I can tell, there is no trustworthy documentation that can give a clear answer as to the age of these eggs.


Condition Of The Egg

Basically, I place value on an egg in good condition. On eggs from the middle of the 1900's, good condition is normally not a problem. With the older eggs, one has to be prepared to compromise. Some of the eggs were not properly handled or stored, and thus have been damaged. The egg to the left in this picture is perhaps the oldest in my collection, and was probably produced in 1880.