Paper Gold: The History and Art of Paper Quilling
Remarkable objects from unremarkable materials.
During the Renaissance, the catholic church, at the height of its power, heralded a new era of religious art. With the emergence of new ideas and a desire to spread their faith, no expense was spared on the greatest craftsman and materials to produce the finest works. Its why today we have the stunning papal apartments and St. Peter’s square in the Vatican. But not every church was privy to such expenditure.
Impoverished churches and monasteries throughout Europe sought more modest means of reverence. In an early form of upcycling, monks and nuns repurposed the trimmings of gilt bible pages into intricate pieces of art. Strips of paper would be coiled around goose quills to form spirals that were then molded into various shapes and fitted into panels or crucifixes. This simple act of paper curling began what is now called ‘quilling’ or the art of papercraft.
The History of Paper Quilling
Whilst quilling gained popularity during the Renaissance, supposedly it originated in Egypt or 4th century Greece where similar coiling techniques were performed on metal filigree. It wasn’t until the early 15th century that quilling gained prominence as an art form, and paper became the main source of material.
In England, the craft was popular as a hobby amongst women throughout the Georgian period. Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of George III, enjoyed the craft as a pastime, and other cultivated women, too. There was a small but thriving market at the time, for crafters and cabinet makers alike, who provided small wooden boxes and frames for the craft. Its popularity fluctuated for many years before it was replaced by other trends.
There was an attempt to revive the craft and popularize it in the late 1880s from William Bemrose, a writer on woodcarving and pottery who owned the Bemrose & sons printing firm. His firm released a quilling kit called a ‘Mosaicon’, and the accompanying book: Mosaicon: or, Paper Mosaic, and How to Make It.
You can read it here.
In recent years, quilling has seen a resurgence. Today, it’s used popularly in commercials, photoshoots and department store displays, due to its cheap cost but high visual impact.
As Bemrose noted in his book, paper quillwork seems to improve with age. And he couldn’t be more right. Antique quillwork of a low workmanship can fetch thousands at auction with superior works reaching into double digits. Elegantly weaved reliquaries bare not only the skill of the craftsman but a rich history as holy relics.
As quilling became a respected technique in religious art, more and more elaborate materials were added into the designs. It’s not uncommon to find paper mixed with wax portraits (as above), hand painted miniatures, solid gold, jewels and other precious materials.
This 19th century work above has an architectural design of an altar. Fabrics, metal figures and other materials are mixed with paper and focused around a miniature portrait.
This French example from the late 18th century (above) uses colorful threads, metallic beads and a miniature painting.
Reliquaries are important religious artifacts said to house the bones of Saints or other important religious objects. Typically, in the most prestigious churches, reliquaries were made of solid gold or silver and built by the finest artisans of the time. But cheaper alternatives were created in poorer churches using leftover gilt paper from bibles and other materials donated to the church.
The example above from the 17th century contains real bone fragments and is dedicated to several martyrs. Whilst the materials are cheap, the effect is still remarkable; the imperfections in the material and the handmade feel makes these objects one of a king and highly desirable for collectors.
Quillwork in the Georgian period expanded to include furniture décor and box designs. The tables above are fine examples of Georgian quillwork. Both the legs and top surfaces are intricately detailed with harmonious colors. Due to the multiple layered coils, the vibrant effect caused by the light gives the table a distinctive finish.
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