HOME PAGE   ORDER A CATALOG   JOIN OUR MAILING LIST   
SITE MAP   HOW TO ORDER   GLOSSARY   WHICH PAPER?  CONTACT A Us
    CALL US AT 1-800-950-6111 

NEPAL

Nepalese papermaking is an unusual hybrid of techniques that were influenced by both Japan and India. Because of the climate, the herding culture and the isolation of the area, papermaking was usually performed by shepherds during the long months each year that they tended to their flocks near the forest edge. Because they travelled considerable distances from their villages, it was essential that most of the supplies needed could be found readily along the way. The daphne (the Nepalese version of gampi) grows abundantly and can be pounded with stones to prepare the pulp before cooking. A stream or even a ditch filled with water serves as the vat. The moulds are made of bamboo, are lightweight and portable. The "traditional" method of papermaking is performed by placing the mould into the vat and then floating the pulp on top of the mould. When the fibers have been distributed to the papermaker's satisfaction, the mould is then lifted from the vat. This technique produces delightfully inconsistent sheets, each with its own individual character.

BAMBOO SILKSCREEN - handmade solid color lokta sheets silkscreened with a pattern of bamboo leaves; 4 deckles.

Colors:

BANANA BARK - handmade from recycled banana bark. Lighter background densely covered with swirls of darker fibers. 4 deckles.

Colors:

SEE MORE PATTERNED PAPERS

Click on any link below

USA Silkscreens; Maziarczyk Paste Papers; Chinese Brocades;  Nepal Coins; Nepal Squares; Nepal Stripes; Nepal Sun Dyed; Thai Batik; Chinese Calligraphy; Climbing Vines; Clouds; Floating Leaves; Thai Mulberry Lettering; Thai Marbles; Napa Silkscreens; Paisley; Thai Rock Art; Thai Splatter; Thai Tribal; India Aztec; India Batik & Block Prints; Gingham; Metallic Batik; India Pulp Marble & Tie Dye; India Marbles; Patterned Plastics; Velour Patterns; Ja Ja Metallics; Bertini; Rossi; Spanish Garabato; Optix; Evergreen Printed Marbles; Brookfield Decoratives

DID YOU KNOW

Chautara is a town which lies about 100 kms east of Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu. It is also a word which designates village resting places made of stone, usually built around a planted tree.

*source: Victoria Paper

photo © Victoria Paper Company

FLORAL SILKSCREEN - handmade solid color lokta sheets silkscreened with ink of a similar color in a floral design. 4 deckles.

Colors:

TIBETAN CLOUD PRINTED LAMA LI - handmade colored papers hand printed in a similar color ink with a stylized cloud pattern. 

Colors:

BODHI LEAVES SILKSCREEN - handmade solid color lokta sheets silkscreened with metallic gold bodhi leaves. 4 deckles.

Colors:

GOLD BRUSHSTROKE SILKSCREEN - handmade solid color lokta sheets with a pattern of metallic gold brushstrokes. 4 deckles.

Colors:

ELECTRIC ZIGZAG LAMA LI - handmade lokta tie-dyed with brilliant color in a zig-zag patten. 4 deckles.

Colors:

LOOK AT SIMILAR TIE DYED PAPERS

Click on any link below

Tie-Dye Autumn; Itajime-shi; Shiburi as well as Nepalese Tie Dye which can be found by scrolling down on this page.

LHAKPA HANDMADES

These sheets are made in the Himalayas at the highest elevation that supports life! Using traditional Nepalese papermaking techniques, the beaten fiber is floated on the mould and then lifted from the vat. To insure the finest quality, Lhakpa have constructed their vats from concrete rather than utilizing a ditch or a pond as most papermakers in this area do. These are some of the largest handmade papers in the world, and exceptional examples of Nepalese papers. Neutral pH; 4 deckles.

LHAKPA NATURAL -  100% natural undyed daphne. One side smooth, one side rough.

LHAKPA BLACK -  100% daphne. Densely pigmented, almost metallic finish.