Making the scroll
The Scroll story
In ancient China, the first books were silk scrolls. In fact, silk and paper often had many common points in that country. The finest Chinese paper was made from the Mulberry tree, which was also used by silk worm farms. Since silk was expensive and relatively scarce, it was reserved for the Imperial Court and wealthy families.
Then, paper arrived...
Paper was invented in China, in the second century after Christ.
According to archives, Cai Lun invented the technique of paper pulp making in 105 AD. He made a paste with bits of bark, hemp, old cloth and used fishing nets.
Paper books were fabricated in scrolls, 30 cm wide to 70cm long; large format books, like dictionaries, could reach 6 to 7 metres in length!
For a long time, paper making techniques were kept secret in China. However, in the 7th Century, it reached Japan where it soon became used as a writing medium.
The milestone in the history of paper is the battle of Samarkand in 751, when Arabs defeated the Chinese army. Arabs then discovered the new technique through Chinese prisoners. This invention spread fast throughout the whole empire, up to Andalusia, and finally reached the rest of Europe in the 12th century.
A tailor-made Scroll for A Scroll around the World
Purple(*) Cloud Court, the company making the scroll near Shanghai, is experienced in mounting a variety of works including calligraphy works and paintings. With a heritage of overone hundred years, this family business spans over three generations of craftsmen.
(*) Purple is the colour that only the Emperor was allowed to use in ancient China.
Purple brings luck. A Chinese saying: "Purple Air from the East", means good luck from the east.
The company has mounted a wide range of works by renowned Chinese calligraphers, including Xie Zhi Liu, Feng Yuan, Gao Si Xiong, Zhou Hui Jun, Zhao Long Yue and Hong Pei Mo.
As shown on the photographs, nowadays the mounting process has been modernised and uses specialised machinery such as dryers.
The fabrication of the scroll for "A Scroll around the World" was challenging due to the sheer length of the scroll: 26 metres!
The scroll consists of 4 layers of material which are assembled in two parts.
First, a thin sheet of rice paper is glued onto a layer of silk, which will form the underside of the scroll. This stage is key to ensure a crease-free surface. The silk can be stretched to provide a smooth surface contrasting with the texture of the rice paper.
Secondly, another layer of silk is applied to frame the writing/drawing area of the scroll. The writting area, made of rice paper fits within the silk border. Then this border is folded over the writing area to encase the rice paper and hold the writing area in place.
These two components are fixed to each other to make the scroll.
Finally, wooden rods are fitted at both ends.
