Cartonnage Materials 1-1

The key materials are brown paper, an armature, and a quick drying glue.

The paper I prefer is a long-fiber wood-pulp type that is fairly thick and has good tensile strength. This kind of paper is often used for market bags or wrapping parcels for mailing.

For this demonstration project, I use an empty hen's eggshell for the armature.

My favorite glue is "Modge Podge", a water-based, acrylic glue used for decoupage. This glue dries in minutes, and remains clear and slightly flexible when dry. I believe an acrylic matte medium could be used in place of Modge Podge glue.

Cartonnage...What is it?

Cartonnage is a term which refers to several methods of construction of objects using paper and glue. In my readings regarding ancient Egypt, I discovered that some mummy cases were constructed from layers of used linen and or used papyrus, one technique of cartonnage. Descriptions I have read explain that these materials were dampened, and then formed into human shape by being pressed over the mummy. These shells were allowed to dry, plastered to obtain a smooth surface, and then painted to resemble the person whose body was being preserved.

My version of cartonnage uses various types of reused paper, and a form of acrylic matte medium for glue. Layered paper laminated with the acrylic medium creates a fairly light-weight, strong, semi-water-resistant material when allowed to dry. I sometimes form my cartonnage pieces over my own original sculptures made in plasticine clay, in similar fashion to the Egyptian craftsperson's methods described above.