The Texas Egg Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are these real egg shells?2. How do you do that?
3. What is an Emu?
4. What is a Rhea?
5. Did the birds growing in the shell die?
6. Do you use Chicken eggs?
7. Is that the real color for Emu shell?
8. Are they very breakable?
9. Does your price include shipping?
10. What is a glass dome?
11. What kind of egg stands do you use?
12. What do you mean when you say "the stand is waxed?"
13. Will you accept credit cards?
14. Are these insured?
15. How many do you break before you finish one?
16. How long does it take to finish one egg?
1. Are these real egg shells?
Yes! They are real egg shells. And each are in a natural state, that is no color or dye has been added.
Return
to questions2. How do you do that?
The work is done with an ultra-high speed, air powered, dentist-type drill. This equipment uses very small carbide or diamond tipped burrs which spin at speeds of approximately 400,000 RPM. This high speed as well as the sharpness of the burrs cuts very small portions of the egg shell without disturbing the surrounding tissue of the shell. The equipment, the technique and the art form has been around for about 20 years now. But there are still not very many people doing the work around the country.
Return
to questions 3. What is an Emu?An Emu is a large flightless bird native to Australia. This is very similar to an ostrich only a little smaller and much more gentle. These birds are being raised in the United States and the shells used here are all from Texas breeders.
Return
to questions 4. What is a Rhea?A Rhea is a large flightless bird native of South America. They are similar to an ostrich only smaller, with a light brown color and without as many feathers. These birds are being raised throughout the United States, however the shells used here are all from Texas breeders.
Return
to questions5. Did the birds growing in the shell die?
No, actually there never were any birds in the shells used by the Texas Egg Gallery. All these shells were "infertile", like chicken eggs sold in the grocery store.
Return
to questions6. Do you use Chicken eggs?
No, chicken eggs are simply too thin to remain stable after being carved.
Return
to questions7. Is that the real color for Emu shell?
Yes, no dye or coloration has been added to any of these egg shells. An Emu egg develops three distinct layers, and each is a different color. The dark green or avocado is the outer color, the lighter green or turquoise is the middle color, and the white is the innermost color.
Return
to questions8. Are they very breakable?
Well yes they will break if dropped, BUT they are much harder and thicker than you might think. A Chicken shell is approximately 5 thousands of an inch thick. In comparison an Ostrich is 100 thousands thick, almost a tenth of an inch! This shell is more like a piece of pottery in durability. Actually breeders say that the Ostrich shell, before being emptied can support 300 pounds! The Emu and Rhea shells are about 50 thousands of an inch, or 10 times as thick as a chicken. This is closer to a piece of porcelain or glass.
Return
to questions9. Does your price include shipping?
No, but shipments are normally sent UPS and fully insured.
Return
to questions10. What is a glass dome?
The glass dome completely covers the egg shell and is provided in sizes to fit the egg. They range from approximately 7 inches high to over 11 inches high. Each dome has a hard wood base. And each egg has it's own egg stand to support the egg in an upright position. All the larger eggs include the dome within the price of the egg.
Return
to questions11. What kind of egg stands do you use?
Usually provided is a brass or bronze stand that has been coated with 18K gold. Other stands are available however. If you would like another stand please discuss it with us.
Return
to questions12. What do you mean when you say "the stand is waxed?"
We add small pieces of a sealing wax onto the tips of the stands and the stand legs. This bonds with the egg shell and the stand to hold the egg in place. On the tips of the legs it keeps the stand from sliding around on the wooden base. This wax can be removed and allows the placement and replacement of the egg shell without breaking the shell. It's a much more practical solution that glue.
Return
to questions13. Will you accept credit cards?
Yes we will gladly accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover Cards.
Return
to questions14. Are these insured?
Yes all shipments are insured for their full value through UPS.
Return
to questions15. How many do you break before you finish one?
Fortunately we don't break very many any more. But there is definitely a "learning curve" for different egg types and different patterns.
Return
to questions16. How long does it take to finish one egg?
This is a much harder question than it seems because there are so many steps in completing an egg shell. Each type of egg has a different thickness and the work involved in each pattern varies widely. As a matter of thumb however most the simpler goose egg patterns take two to three hours, and the ostrich egg patterns take up to forty hours to complete.
Return
to questions
