Method of making marbled paper
Date
1661
Creator
Unknown, Artist
After
John Evelyn (1620 - 1706, British) , Diarist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p143
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 366mm
width (page): 232mm
width (page): 232mm
Subject
Description
Figures from John Evelyn's paper (Cl.P/3i/4/002) on how to make marbled paper.
Fig. 1 shows a pointed stick with which the liquid, sprinkled with several colours, is mixed.
Fig. 2 indicates how the pointed stick should be moved diagonally across the surface of the liquid in a trough.
Fig. 3 shows a comb used to comb the surface from one end of the trough to the other.
A paper is then carefully placed on the surface of this liquor to absorb the pattern, which should then be lifted up and dried.
This paper was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 8 January 1662. Two weeks later, Evelyn's method was actually tried and it 'succeeded'.
This is a copy of RBO/1/139. There is another copy of these images at MS/776/128-29.
Fig. 1 shows a pointed stick with which the liquid, sprinkled with several colours, is mixed.
Fig. 2 indicates how the pointed stick should be moved diagonally across the surface of the liquid in a trough.
Fig. 3 shows a comb used to comb the surface from one end of the trough to the other.
A paper is then carefully placed on the surface of this liquor to absorb the pattern, which should then be lifted up and dried.
This paper was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 8 January 1662. Two weeks later, Evelyn's method was actually tried and it 'succeeded'.
This is a copy of RBO/1/139. There is another copy of these images at MS/776/128-29.
Transcription
Figure 1, Ink, pointed stick used to stir briskly 'the Liquour and fluctuating colours by drawing it from one side of the Trough to the other ; Size height 2 cm x width 4.5 cm
Figure 2, Ink, Trough in which the colours are mixed, with numbers at either side to show the stick moving from side to side; size height 6 cm x width 4.5 cm
Figure 3, Ink, ' Comb taken by the ends with both your hands, comb the surfaces of the Liquor in the Trough from extreme to the other, permitting onely the teeth to enter; this must be performed with a gentle and uniforme Motion, and will make those undulations which you see in the marble papers. This Instrument represented in Figure III is made with a Straite sticke, about the bignesse of the little finger: and as far as amounts to the breadth of the Trough, inserted with small pinns (such as Women use0 at the distance of a quarter of an inch; but let the ends of the stick unpinnd, extend a little beyond the dimensions of the Troughs breadth, for the better managing thereof when you are to Comb the Liquor. ' Size height 2 cm x 4.5 cm
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Figure 2, Ink, Trough in which the colours are mixed, with numbers at either side to show the stick moving from side to side; size height 6 cm x width 4.5 cm
Figure 3, Ink, ' Comb taken by the ends with both your hands, comb the surfaces of the Liquor in the Trough from extreme to the other, permitting onely the teeth to enter; this must be performed with a gentle and uniforme Motion, and will make those undulations which you see in the marble papers. This Instrument represented in Figure III is made with a Straite sticke, about the bignesse of the little finger: and as far as amounts to the breadth of the Trough, inserted with small pinns (such as Women use0 at the distance of a quarter of an inch; but let the ends of the stick unpinnd, extend a little beyond the dimensions of the Troughs breadth, for the better managing thereof when you are to Comb the Liquor. ' Size height 2 cm x 4.5 cm
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
8 January 1662, ‘Mr. Evelyn read an Account of the making of marbled paper; which was ordered to be registered’ (Birch 1:69).
22 January 1662, ‘The experiment of making marbled paper was made by a man introduced by the amanuensis; which succeeded, according to Mr. Evelyn’s description of that method’ (Birch 1:70).
22 January 1662, ‘The experiment of making marbled paper was made by a man introduced by the amanuensis; which succeeded, according to Mr. Evelyn’s description of that method’ (Birch 1:70).
Related fellows
John Evelyn (1620 - 1706, British) , Diarist
Associated place