Egyptian Papyrus Paintings
Papyrus Paper Making
The strips are soaked in water for a few days
to dissolve the soluble carbohydrates. The
strips undergo a preliminary rolling with a heavy
wooden roller against a flat block of wood to
get rid of the sap laden with soluble materials.
The rind is first uncovered with a sharp knife exposing the inner white
pith. The uncovered pith is then cut with a knife in parallel thin strips of
even thickness in the longitudinal direction of the stalk.
Papyrus is an aquatic plant belonging to the Cyperaceous botanic
family. It is distinguished by having triangular culm commonly
called stalk, reaching up to 12 feet high at fully maturity.
Harvesting papyrus takes place during summer
(June-September). Only mature stalks are cut and
tied in bundles each of 25 stalks.
The fully hydrated strips are cut to the required length on a board of
wood.
On a piece of linen material a layer of parallel
strips is put horizontally. Another layer is laid
vertically on the top of the first one. The
papyrus sheet thus formed is covered with
another piece of linen.
Between two pieces of dry felt the sheet is put under the press.
The applied pressure drives the water from the wet sheet to be
absorbed by the covering felt which is changed several times until
the sheet is dried completely.
The finished sheet is examined against the light.
All defective sheets are eliminated.
The sheet is then given to well qualify artists to carry on their
hand painting of Egyptian Papyrus Paintings.
Pictures and text courtesy of the Egyptian Art
Center and they holds the Copyright ©2002
Egyptianartcenter.com
