FAQ
What is marbling?
Marbling is a type of surface design, created by floating paint or ink on thickened water, before taking a print of it. The paints are floated on a substance known as 'size' which is traditionally made of water thickened with carrageenan seaweed or gum tragacanth. Paint - traditionally gouache, but many modern marblers also use acrylics - are then floated on the surface of the size and combed into a range of patterns using either a stylus or a marbling rake. Paper that has been pre-treated with alum solution is then laid on top of the finished design to create a print. This is then dried and can be used in a variety of different crafts including traditional bookbinding.
When was marbling invented?
The art of producing marbled papers is hundreds of years old and its roots can be traced back to several different countries in East Asia and the Middle East. Suminagashi, the art of floating inks on pure water was first developed in Japan in the 12th century, while the art of floating inks on thickened water is thought to have developed in Central Asia and the Middle East from the 13th century onwards.
In Turkey, this new technique was called Ebru and the country quickly became synonymous with expertly crafted marbled papers which were used for calligraphy, religious texts and important books.
From its roots in Central Asia and the Middle East, marbling reached Europe in the 17th century and became particularly popular in Germany and France, before slowly growing in popularity in the UK thanks to the imports of Dutch merchants. Britain's marbling industry developed rapidly from the 18th century onwards before rapidly declining again in the 19th century as modern, cheaper printing techniques began to flood the market.
Why is marbling considered an endangered craft by the Endangered Crafts Council?
Due to the development of mass printing technology, paper marbling, which is a notoriously inconsistent and slow technique, saw a swift decline in the UK from the 19th century onwards. Thankfully though, perhaps as a direct response to the development of AI, many artists are now returning to analog crafts like paper marbling and breathing new life into old techniques.
Where can I learn more about marbling?
If you want to learn more about marbling there are some great resources out there. When I first began marbling, I found Making Traditional Marbled Papers by Kate Brett an incredibly useful resource. For a more contemporary take, check out Contemporary Paper Marbling: Design and Technique by Lucy McGrath.
There are also a wealth of online resources, including this fun video 'A beginner's guide to paper marbling, with Rajiv Surendra'.