Artisan Papers

Have you ever wondered how they got the cool designs on the binding of old books? I love finding a book in a flea market or something that has that marbling on it….books were so valued that even the binding of them was a work of art! The same technique is employed to dye paper for various other uses. Made throughout Europe even into the 19th century, marbled-paper making survives today almost exclusively in Florence with its old artisan economy grafted onto the airborne tourist trade of today. Nothing is lighter or easier to take home than a sheet of handmade carta marmorizzata, which sells in Florence's marbled paper shops for less than $8.

Basically, a resin or a glue is added to a specially designed basin. Then drops of pigment are flicked or drizzled into the basin. The artist creates his pattern in the pigments and then lightly dips the paper in the glue bath. After the colored paper is lifted gently from its bath, it is patted, sponged, combed or brushed into patterns. The three most popular are peacock's tail, combed or marbled. Of the 200 or so sheets usually obtained from one basin, no two are ever alike. Each is a work of art that can then be cut and glued to agendas, blotters, bookends and all the paraphernalia to enhance desks and the even more elusive art of writing.

There are a lot of paper shops in Florence. Let me know if you would like a demonstration with the artisan – and you can design your own marbled paper. I picked these up as gift for a friend who highly values the written word. It will be hard to part with them!!