The Origin of Papier-Mâché

Papier-mâché comes from French and means chewed paper or crumpled paper. It is a technique used to create various items from accessible and cheap materials.

The birthplace of this art is China. It originated there between 202 and 220 B.C. Later, it spread to Japan and Persia, where it was used to create masks for special ceremonies.

In the 17th century, it became known in France and spread worldwide. In 1740, the production of papier-mâché items began, using lacquers and various ingredients to make the objects as strong as wood.

Today, the technique is used for making dolls, puppets, and stage decorations because they are extremely lightweight and easy to transport.

This is one of the favorite hobbies among young and old. With this technique, you can recreate various objects and shapes using just simple materials. The possibilities are endless!

Types

There are two ways to create figures from papier-mâché:

1. Molding a mass composed of soft paper and glue.
2. Layering torn paper pieces, also known as mâché.

To create a copy of an object, apply small pieces of paper, usually newspaper because it is cheap and accessible, onto it.

Use flour, starch, or wallpaper paste as a glue. Make sure the entire object is covered with small paper scraps, ensuring the coating is uniform and smooth. Leave it dry until it hardens. Once dry, cut into two parts to remove the original object.

Glue the removed paper parts back together. This creates a copy of the object, forming a solid paper mold. Once you have a finished three-dimensional figure, you can paint it in any color and decorate it further.

This method is super easy and accessible, as it doesn’t require many resources. Work with inexpensive materials available in any home, such as old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard. You can even use starch and flour as glue.

This is a great way to recycle unwanted items at home. In return, you will get interesting dolls, masks, and souvenirs to beautifully decorate your home.

Applications

The techniques and methods that existed in the past are still cherished among fans of applied arts. Thanks to the abundance of items in our time, the papier-mâché technique is thriving.

Here are some modern-day applications of this amazing ancient art:

1.    Creating Masks

One of the most common uses of paper-mâché is in making carnival masks.

You need paper – newspaper or other paper, cut into small pieces, and glue, which can be any kind of glue, though the easiest and most accessible is a mixture of water and flour or water and starch. Make your own homemade glue with ease!

Next, choose the shape of your mask and start gluing paper pieces onto it, layer by layer, with glue in between, until you have a thick layer.

Let it dry until it hardens. Then, remove the mask’s base, if you used one, to leave only the one you created. Once you have the finished mask, you can decorate it with any colors, glitter, ribbons, and accessories.

Such masks are often made for school celebrations, carnivals, and operettas.

2.    Making Dolls

Papier-mâché is ideal for making dolls. It allows you to create dolls of any kind and size – big, small, and animal-shaped. Use this technique to make interesting toys for your children or decorative souvenirs for your home.

Paper dolls are safe for children of all ages. They are easy to make and can be painted in various colors, with added decorations like glitter, beads, fabric for clothes to make them more realistic, strings, yarn, or threads for hair, ribbons, and more.

Let your imagination run wild and create wonderful dolls in various shapes and sizes! Decorate them with beads, ribbons, buttons, fabric, and other elements on our website.

3.    Theater Set Design

Papier-Mâché is often used in stage art. It is used to make decors as it is light and easily transported from place to place.

With the papier-mâché technique, you can create various stage decorations. Anything on stage can be made from paper !

This allows you to recreate any object needed in the play and position it anywhere without any problem.

4.    Making Musical Instruments

Did you know you can make musical instruments using papier-mâché? The most common are maracas. These percussion musical instruments consist of two hollow round bodies filled with sand, rice, or synthetic material, and wooden or plastic handles. Shaking them produces a rattling sound.

You can make this instrument at home using papier-mâché - it is super easy!

5.    Creating Pencil Holders and Decorative Bowls and Vases

With this technique, you can make amazing pencil holders for your children. They are original and stylish and bring joy and creativity to learning time.

You can make pencil holders in any shape and decorate them any way you want – add accessories, glitter, ribbons or eyelets.

Papier-mâché is also ideal for creating decorative bowls and vases. Use these paper bowls to store various fruits or Easter eggs, and the decorative vases for arranging artificial flowers.

Papier-mâché items are eye-catching and outstanding. It is no wonder why this technique is beloved by young and old.

It is one of the most interesting and engaging art forms, completely safe at that.

It allows the imagination to fully manifest, developing aesthetic sense, dexterity, and creativity.

If you are new to this art, look for tutorials online. In them, art enthusiasts carefully demonstrate how anyone can easily create figures from paper and glue, using different colors and decorations – beads, glitter, ribbons, colored strips, and more.

You will see the most unique ways to recreate any shape and bring it into your home. The best part of papier-mâché is that it doesn’t require significant investments.

Prices

We strive to maintain low and accessible prices. For wholesale traders, we have special offers. With the products from this section, you can combine materials from all hobby categories.

Why EM ART?

On our online store, you will find a variety of hobby materials. We offer beads, hobby and craft materials, art supplies, decoration materials, jewelry-making accessories, and tools and packaging.

At EM ART, you can shop retail and wholesale. Take advantage of our preferential prices for wholesale today!

Delivery

After selecting your products and adding them to the cart, you need to complete your order. Then, provide your full name, address for delivery, and phone number.

Once your order is confirmed, expect it to arrive in a couple of working days.

Trust EM ART and select the best products for you!