Samarkand silk paper

Historical background. It is well known that Samarkand was the first place in the Middle East to produce paper made by hand using a watermill. The production technology was borrowed from the Chinese. Later, thanks to the Arabs, the technology of its manufacture spread to the West - from the Middle East (XI century) to Spain (XII century), and then throughout Europe. Paper produced in China and Samarkand replaced the more expensive parchment and lower-quality Egyptian papyrus at that time. For thousands of years, the artisans of Samarkand (Kogozgary) have been making the best paper in the world, which had a smooth surface, durability, and, most importantly, absorbed little ink. Technologies for the production of various types of paper have been developed. During the reign of Amir Temur, paper production was one of the main branches of handicraft exports. It is known that by the beginning of the 18th century, more than 40 paper workshops were operating in Samarkand and its surroundings. Cotton, silk and mulberry bark were used as raw materials. In the XVIII century . cheaper factory technology for making paper from cellulose became widespread, which led to the decline of paper production in Samarkand, and the secrets of the technology were gradually lost.

June 23, 1998, can be considered the day of the renaissance of Samarkand paper, made by hand, artisanal method. The secrets of this craft have been restored by local enthusiasts with the help of UNESCO.

Today, Samarkand paper, famous in the past, is again produced according to ancient recipes in a specially built paper workshop in the village of Konigil on the outskirts of Samarkand. The production mechanisms here, as in the past, are driven by a water wheel installed on the canal of the Siab River.

Paper is made from mulberry bark, cotton, as well as waste from cotton and silk production, silkworm fiber, young mulberry root and other ingredients. For a special piquancy, corn stigmas, wool and silk threads, and flower petals are added to the "paper milk". Other raw materials are also used, henna, rose petals and rose water, silk multicolored threads are added. All this creates not only a unique combination of pleasant color and smell, but also a great presentability of the products.

The production process begins with boiling the bark of mulberry trees and grinding it to a mushy state in wooden mortars and soaking it in water. Then an adhesive solution is added, made from natural glue, which is collected on the bark of trees. The mixed mass prepared in this way is poured into baths, from which the layers of raw materials deposited on them, the future paper, are extracted using a wooden frame with a mesh bottom. After that, the sheets of paper are aged under a press, then dried and starched. The next stage is rolling-glossing (to obtain a smooth, shiny surface) is done manually. The paper is smoothed using a gloss made of semi-precious stone - agate. The entire process of producing one sheet of A3 paper takes about an hour.

Samarkand paper made in such an artisanal way is used as a basis for the restoration of ancient manuscripts and books, writing miniatures, for letters, as decorative material in the manufacture of souvenir books, albums, postcards, as wrapping paper for packaging souvenirs of folk and other craftsmen, and even clothing. This paper is washable and can last for many centuries.