Nepalese
washi is paper made using the Japanese technique of
nagashizuki.
These papers are made in Bansbari, outside Katmandu, at the paper
factory of Milan Dev Bhattarai. The papers are made by diffusion of
lokta and mitsumata, a well known plant of Japan. These exotic papers
are hand made, textured and deckle edged. It has a smooth surface on one
side and a grainy surface on the other side.
In the '70s, a group of Japanese papermakers visited the Himalayas. They
were impressed by the plants growing on the lower slopes and they found
that those plants were quite similar to the plants growing in the
traditional papermaking areas of Japan. Then a program was sponsored by
the Japanese government to implement the idea and task of paper making
in the northern mountain villages. This resulted in 'Washi'-style papers
of consistent quality. This paper was called
Nepalese Washi.
Making of Nepalese Washi Paper
- Mix the fiber in the vat with water and mucilage to make pulp
viscous.
- Dip the mould into the vat.
- The mould, also called su-keta consists of a fine split bamboo
screen on top of a ribbed wooden frame.
- Lift the sheets and place onto a pile.
- The pile of papers is pressed by screw press.
- The sheets are separated and dried on metal sheets.
- The resulting paper is a beautiful Nepalese Washi.
Application
of Nepalese Washi Paper
- Used for printmaking and drawing in ink.
- Used for bookbinding and calligraphy.
- Used in inkjet and laser printers.
- Washi Handmade paper is widely used for watercolors.
