Victorian Paper Marbling Workshop

The mesmerising and mindful process of paper marbling has been practiced for centuries.

Liquid paint dropped on a surface of thickened water produce marbled patterns, which are then picked up on paper. At its simplest, this creates a delightful arrangement of blobby shapes, but various tools can also be used to create more intricate patterns.

In this workshop, you will work through a range of paper marbling techniques, from basic patterns like Italian Vein and Swirls, through to more elaborate ones like Nonpareil. You’ll learn how to prepare most of the materials necessary for marbling, making it easy to replicate the whole process in your own home or studio.

Marbled papers can be found hanging in the Museum’s Victorian room during our annual Winter Past exhibition, where hand-marbled papers dry by the fire during Christmas preparations in 1878. The final product was used to wrap packages, make festive cards, or create paper chains.