19th Century

Marbled Paper
(Ebru)
 

   



Dalgali Ebru
Pigment on paper
27.5 x 20 cm 
 

 

Dalgali Ebru
Pigment on paper
27.5 x 20 cm 
 

 

Dalgali Ebru
Pigment on paper
23.5 x 18 cm 


 

Dalgali Ebru
Pigment on paper
23.5 x 18 cm 
 

 

Dalgali Ebru
Pigment on paper
24 x 18 cm 
 

 

Dalgali Ebru
Pigment on paper
25 x 16 cm 
 

 

Neftli Ebru
Pigment on paper
23.5 x 16 cm 
 

 

Battal Ebru
Pigment on paper
23.5 x 15 cm 
 

 

Battal Ebru
Pigment on paper
23 x 14.5 cm 
 

 

Battal Ebru
Pigment on paper
21.5 x 12.5 cm 
 

 

Battal Ebru
Oil pigment on paper
21 x 11.5 cm 
 

 

Tarakli Ebru
Pigment on paper
21 x 12 cm 
 

 

 

               

 

MARBLED PAPER , or Ebru in Turkish, has been traditionally made since the 16th century, primarily in the Islamic Middle East and Turkey.  In the 18th century the art reached into Western Europe and became popular in the 19th century particularly in the binding of fine books.

This small collection of examples was gathered in the 1950s while working as a bookbinder for extra cash in the library of my university grad school. The 18-19th century books that needed serious repair were often dismantled and fitted with new covers.  The "scrap," including the old covers and end papers, was usually discarded.  I saved some of these, but paid little attention to them until the summer of 2013 when I met a young couple from Iraq and Turkey, now living in Finland, who are involved in making marbled paper in the centuries-old tradition.  Their spirit rekindled my interest in this marvelous art form and I re-discovered my own long-forgotten treasures.

These examples are from a collection totaling 42 sheets, several full book covers and one box covered with marbled paper.

The Turkish names associated with the above examples were provided by Nurhayat Polat, whose contemporary work can be found at  www.artpiste.fi .

 

 

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For additional information please contact the gallery by email

Imagi Gallery  


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