Hand Marbled Paper Sheet, Swimming Pool Blue

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.

The ever popular Spanish ripple, the characteristic waves, is created by shifting the paper bank and forth as it is laid down on the surface. It is typically created over the classic Turkish spot (as in this instance) and the story goes that it was discovered by accident when a hungover 17th century marblers assistant and as a result their shaky hands caused the distinctive pattern.

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

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