THAILAND
Papermaking in Thailand has been practiced for many centuries. Their influences came from the North, having learned the papermaking processes from both Japan and Korea. Most Thai papers use kozo fiber which is plentiful and grows quickly in Thailand. Because of the warm climate, the kozo that is harvested produces sheets that are highly absorbent and have a soft and spongy touch.
As in other Asian cultures, Thai papers were primarily made by small clans of isolated people that lived in rural areas near to the necessary raw materials. Because of political unrest, during the years 1930-1970, papermaking neared extinction as the numbers of households fled from these areas. Fortunately, over the past decade, papermaking has once again emerged. Today, Thailand manufactures a vast array of traditional and inventive decorative sheets. The industry has now relocated within the major cities where it provides employment for many skilled craftspeople and consolidates the work forces for both machine made and handmade practices.
BANANA BARK - machine made of kozo with large chunks of banana bark, 2 deckles.
sheets 26 x 37" $2.40 / each
MANGO - machine made of kozo embedded with mango leaves.
sheets 26 x 37" $2.40 / each
click on thumbnails to enlarge
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