Paper Quilling is the craft of rolling thin paper strips into various shapes which are then collectively arranged to form designs.  It is theorized that the name Quilling came about due to the fact that early quillers used a feather quill as a tool to aid in the rolling of their paper strips.  Paper Quilling has also been known by many other names throughout its long history.

 

 

 

Little on the history of Paper Quilling is recorded.  The earliest forms of Paper Quilling remain a mystery but speculations are they are an evolution of metal and other filigree works of the early Middle Eastern and Egyptian civilizations.

 

The earliest piece of preserved Paper Quilling recorded dates from the mid seventeenth century.  Most of the quillworks now in museums are usually from the eighteenth or nineteenth century, yet evidence suggests that Paper Quilling has existed for at least five hundred years.

 

It is noted that early quillworks were first used as decoration in religious houses as early as the Medieval (circa AD 650 - 1550) period.  They were likely done by members of the European religious orders in an attempt to simulate metal filigree with less costly materials.

 

Paper Quilling attained its height of popularity in the eighteenth century when a keen interest in the craft developed among fashionable young ladies-of-leisure of the time.  At the same time, the popularity of Paper Quilling was also carried over to North America with the colonials. 

 

For uncertain reasons, the popularity of Paper Quilling inevitably started to wane and after the early nineteenth century, no notable works of Paper Quilling appeared.  It was not until the mid twentieth century that interest in Paper Quilling rekindled.

 

 

 

The fundamental medium for Paper Quilling is paper strips.  In centuries past, quillers hand-cut their paper strips and to this day, there are some quillers who still maintain this tradition.

 

These paper strips are first rolled around a quilling tool (a needle-like instrument), shaped then glued, after which the shapes are assembled to form the required design with the help of a template and quilling board.  Straight pins are used to hold the shapes in position.

 

As quilled designs are invariably made up of individual shapes, Paper Quilling can be rather time-intensive, depending on the complexity and scale of the project.

 

 

 

Paper Quilling lends itself well to virtually any style and design.  Quillers throughout the ages have conjured a fascinating array of quillworks.

 

Antique European quillworks include reliquaries (containers for holy relics), framed panels, and tea caddies, to name a few.  On the other hand, early examples of American pieces seem to point to a particular interest in quilled sconces (wall brackets for candles) and coats of arms.

 

Today, quillers proffer creations ranging from greeting cards to wearable jewellery, Jinisans (three-dimensional paper representations of people) and more!

 

 

 

Many contemporary quillers find delight in knowing that they are involved in an ancient craft, continuing its history and putting it to new applications with the help of modern materials.

 

One of the most charming things about Paper Quilling is its versatility.  But the versatility of Paper Quilling is not only in the variety of finished products.  It is also in the way that traditional ideas continue to be changed and developed.

 

 

 

Despite the opinion held by many that Paper Quilling is a mere hobby or craft, there is an increasing number of artists who recognise the creative potential of Paper Quilling.

 

 

 

 

 

Explore other topics of Paper Quilling:   History   Process   Categories   Care and Storage   Little Known Facts   Links to Quilling Guilds