Paperwork refers to the use of decorative papers. People have designed and used such papers for hundreds of years. Most decorative papers are made with paper produced by machines. But some of the finest decorative papers are made with handmade paper. The printing of decorative papers involves the use of such graphic arts processes as wood-block and linoleum-block engraving. Decorative papers can be divided into several categories, including end paper, lining paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper, and paper handicrafts.
End papers
are decorative papers that printers once pasted on the inside of the front and back covers of books. The use of end papers dates back to early printed books. Most end papers were made of marbled paper—that is, paper printed to resemble the lined and mottled appearance of marble.
Lining papers
are used to line drawers and to cover cupboards and shelves. They often have lively floral designs with a recurrent bird pattern. Lining papers may also be decorated with small, repeated landscapes.
Wallpaper
is decorative paper used to cover inside walls. People have used wallpaper for hundreds of years in England, France, and the United States. During the 1700’s, artists designed wallpaper with formal landscape scenes. Such paper was made only for the wealthy. It was widely used in France and England and exported to the United States. Also during the 1700’s, many people used wallpaper decorated with Chinese objects and patterns, in a style called Chinoiserie. See Wallpaper .
Wrapping paper
is used for wrapping gifts. Many wrapping papers have attractive and colorful patterns that make them suitable for use at holidays, birthdays, or other special occasions. The most common wrapping papers are glazed papers printed on one side only. Wrapping papers also include patterned tissue paper. In addition, people wrap gifts with such paperlike materials as metal foil and tinted cellophane.
Paper handicrafts
have been popular in the United States since the 1600’s. Today, people frequently make paper decorations and favors for parties and other special events. Crepe paper is widely used to make such objects as costumes, paper flowers, and holiday novelties, including Christmas tree ornaments. In the folk art called quilling, thin strips of paper are coiled and pinched into teardrop or eye shapes and glued together to make abstract designs and figures. Both the Chinese and the Japanese have developed traditional paper handicrafts that involve making cuts in folded pieces of paper. The cuts create elaborate patterns that appear when the paper is unfolded. The Japanese also fold uncut sheets of paper to make objects in an art form called origami (see Origami ).
