Egyptian Papyrus Paintings

Title: Papyrus 1 Dimensions: 9" x 13"  (24 x 33cm) Medium: Ink & paint on  papyrus Cost: $30	Title: Papyrus 3 Dimensions: 13" x 9"  (33 x 24cm) Medium: Ink & paint on papyrus Cost: $30	Title: Papyrus 2 Dimensions: 13" x 9"  (33 x 24cm) Medium: Ink & paint on  papyrus Cost: $30 SOLD!  5 Dec '04 Thanks!	Title: Papyrus 4 Dimensions: 9" x 13"  (24 x 33cm) Medium: Ink & paint on papyrus Cost: $30 SOLD! She made an offer I couldn't refuse!

See below for a history and further explanation of how papyrus is prepared for painting!

If you are interested in any of these paintings: Write down the title of the paintings, and go to our Purchasing Form!

What is papyrus?

Papyrus is the material that is made from the fibers of reeds that grown on the banks of the Nile River. It was manufactured as early as the first Egyptian Dynasty, circa 3,000. The Egyptians have used papyrus for 4,000 years. “Ground paper” eventually replaced papyrus for economic reasons, although manufacturing of papyrus continued until the end of the 11^th century. Today it is still manufactured on a small scale, and primarily for art.

The manufacturing process has not changed in thousands of years. Papyrus paper is made by first soaking the papyrus in river water to soften the skin of the reed. The papyrus is gathered and trimmed into pieces about 12 inches long, it is then soaked in river water to keep the reed flexible. The tough skin is peeled away exposing a white pith. This pith is sliced into thin strips with a razor blade.  The slices are squeezed to remove the excess water. The strips are laid slightly overlapping, vertical and horizontally, creating a tight weave. The strips are then squeezed between blotters and held under pressure until the papyrus strips dry. The natural juices from the papyrus create a glue, giving strength and durability to the paper. 

The photos below give a further explanation:

	The outer green skin is removed from the stalk. The inner pith of the plant is cut into long thin strips and these strips are pounded to break down the fibers and then soaked for three days in water until the pith is clear and pliable.
	The strips are cut to length and laid, overlapping, on a piece of cotton fabric. Two layers of strips, one horizontal and the other vertical are used. Note: Cotton cloth was also invented by the Egyptians
	The sheets of material are placed between two hard absorbent barriers. These "sandwiches" are stacked up and placed in a press. They are squeezed and left in the Sun. Every eight hours the absorbent barriers would be replaced. This process go on for three to four days or until the Papyri are dry.
	After removal from the press the Papyri are used for painting pictures, sending correspondence or recording all kinds of events using oil or gouache colors, inks or paint in the ancient Egyptian written language now called "Hieroglyphic".