Paper quilling is a timeless art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create intricate designs and patterns.
The History of Paper Quilling
Welcome to the wonderful world of paper quilling.
Origins
Paper quilling also known as paper filigree has been around for centuries, no one really knows where it began, but some historians believe it started in China when paper was first invented, or in Ancient Egypt. It is thought that metal wires were used to create designs that were later imitated with paper.
In Medieval Europe Nuns and Monks used quilling to decorate religious items, taking paper from religious books with gilded edges to mimic the appearance of wrought iron or metal filigree, with some works so detailed that looked like the real thing.
Renaissance Period
During the Renaissance quilling became more widespread in Europe particularly among the upper classes, where it was used to decorate book covers, frames, and religious artifacts. The art was often practiced by women in convents and genteel society as a pastime that required minimal materials but a great deal of patience and skill.
18th and 19th Centuries
During the 18th century quilling grew in popularity in England, becoming a popular hobby among ladies of leisure who created ornate works as part of their domestic craft traditions. It also began to spread to Colonial America where it remained a genteel craft, with women making decorative boxes, screens and furniture embellishments.
20th Century Decline
In the 20th Century quilling saw a decline due to the rise of modern industry and a change in art trends. Quilling fell out of fashion and was often seen as an old-fashioned craft.
Modern Revival
Luckily in the late 20th and early 21st centuries quilling started to see a resurgence of interest as part of a wider revival of handcrafts and DIY arts. Artists worldwide now use quilling in innovative ways, from traditional motifs to modern paper sculptures, jewellery and wall art.
Quilling has gained recognition as a legitimate art form with exhibitions, books and online tutorials supporting a global community of enthusiasts and professional artists.
Tools and materials have evolved over the years, but the core techniques of rolling, pinching and gluing remain largely the same as they were centuries ago.