Papier-mâché, << PAY puhr muh SHAY, >> is a mixture of paper and glue used in crafts and the fine arts. Papier-mâché is used to make such items as furniture, jewelry, masks, dolls, and toys. Artists use papier-mâché to create sculptures.
Traditional papier-mâché involves tearing paper into small pieces and adding them to white glue or wallpaper paste until the mixture becomes pasty. The mixture can be placed into a mold or built up on a frame made of wire or other material. The frame has the skeletal shape of the object being made. Papier-mâché can also be made by tearing paper into small squares and coating each piece with glue. The pieces can be pasted on cardboard, metal, wood, or other surfaces to cover and decorate objects.
After papier-mâché has dried and hardened, its surface can be smoothed with sandpaper and painted. Lace, string, and other decorations can also be added. Papier-mâché can also be coated with varnish or other substances to make it water-resistant and durable.
Papier-mâché was probably developed by the Chinese during ancient times. In the 1600’s, the French became the first Europeans to use papier-mâché, creating boxes, trays, and other decorative objects. The English became noted for the beautiful furniture they made with the material during the 1800’s.
