There is something magical about marbled paper - the detail, the color, the alchemy playing across the surface, the fact that each paper is absolutely unique. When visiting Florence when we were younger it was deeply coveted in any form - notebooks for secrets, cards for friends, boxes for our most special things. To feed this love that we know so many share, we created a series of beautiful notebooks, each unique, each made by hand from marbled start to book bound finish, each boldly original.  These make very special gifts and we love them for guestbooks.

While paper marbling is considered an endangered craft, it is still thriving in the hands of artists in Florence. However, this is not where the story of marbling began. Paper marbling dates back to 12th century Japan where it was known as ‘ink floating’, the technique traveled to the Middle East, Persia, India and Turkey where it became known as ‘cloud art’. It was only in the 16th and 17th centuries that this art form was embraced in Europe, primarily used for book binding. At this time, the art form took on many designs such as ‘old Dutch’ and ‘French Curl’, each named for the country of practice, and so it remained.  

The inseparable trifecta of scale, color and form are always front and center when we collaborate with makers. Nowhere is this layering of old methodology and new design more visible than with our collaboration with Ansuini & Co.