Plant Based

At its most basic, paper is made from interwoven fibers matted together into a flat sheet. Fibers, coming traditionally from plants or cotton and linen rags, are soaked and beaten to create a pulp. The pulp is added to a water-filled vat, from which it is scooped up using a mold with an attached deckle that keeps the fibers from sliding off the sides. The mold’s fine screen suspends the fibers and allows the water to drain away, leaving only the damp fibers in a flat sheet, which is then dried.

This section shows examples of handmade paper, as well as materials and equipment used in the papermaking process.