Hand Marbled Paper Sheet, Red Shells with Stormont Pattern

Marbling, which first appeared in Asia around the twelfth century and travelled to Europe through Persia and Turkey, only became prolific in Britain in the mid-nineteenth century. Unfortunately, like many precious and wonderful things, the industrial revolution put an end to a dynamic hand-bookbinding industry, and by extension the production of hand decorated papers. Today, marbling is the reserved territory of a few artisans. Around the world they are called upon by libraries and antiquarian book specialists to restore and preserve some of our most precious manuscripts from the past.

The patterns chosen and presented here are each completely unique and modern interpretations of popular Victorian patterns, made by leading European paper marblers, selected by Choosing Keeping for the particular originality and quality of their work.

This particular sheet combines two marbling techniques: shell and stormont. Stormont (despite being named for an Irish town) is thought to originate in France in the early nineteenth century and it involves mixing a dispersant, such as turpentine, with the paint which is then scattered on the bath in a Turkish spot pattern -  these spots are those that look like they have tiny holes in them. Shell, also originating in France, is a similar technique wherein you mix oil with the paint before applying - this is what creates the gradation effect to certain spots. 

Details:
Print type: Hand marbled original work
Dimensions: 50 x 70cm

Sold as a single sheet, while the pattern will remain the same, as each sheet is printed individually small variations in colour and pattern rhythm can occur and are an inherent part of the item sold.