Antique Paper

The briefest of history about paper. 

Despite the onward, unstoppable march of super technologies that we're all now experiencing, nothing has changed the world quite like paper has, for so many people, and for so many years. 

Where once it was a ubiquitous commodity, used in almost every aspect of life from packaging to making art, handmade paper is now the product of cottage industries dotted around the globe, made by a handful of dedicated people committed to the upkeep of the craft.

Paper was invented in China about 2000 years ago. From there, the technology spread west. The earliest European paper made in about 1300. Up until the 1800s, handmade was the only way, made from old cotton and linen rags.

Around the mid 1850s, machinemade paper began to appear, and with it, the beginning of the woodpulp paper era, the use of cotton all but disappearing with the exception of a few art, writing and currency papers.

The craft of hand papermaking continued alongside that of machinemade paper, and was widespread up to about the late 1950s, but by the 1980s it was all but gone, a victim of economy and the loss of knowledge.

There are still a few artisan papermakers dotted around the globe, and doing great work, producing some beautiful paper, but to be frank, when comparing modern handmade to the papers made in the 1950s and before, it's almost like a different product altogether.

The papers in our collection and archives were made in the golden age of British papermaking.

The craftsmanship, knowledge, experience and quality of fibre used to create these sheets no longer exist, thus paper of this quality is a rare and precious commodity.

These papers are absolutely delightful, highly usable in both traditional and modern techniques including printmaking, bookbinding, drawing in inks and pencils, calligraphy and drawing.

NEXT COLLECTION RELEASED IN APRIL 2025

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