Quilling through the time…

 Quilling is an ancient decoration technic. In eastern countries lots of jewellery and ornaments were and are still made of silver filigree. The history of paper filigree is closely linked with the invention of paper during the 2d century in China. It seems likely that just like the art of folding paper (origami) the coiling and shaping of paper strips would have occur quickly afterwards. Later in Europe, the decorations made by silversmiths have been reproduced by monks and nuns. Quilling was also practised by ladies of high society. The north American settlers brought quilling with them, and so paper filigree became known all around the world. This way paper-filigree passed the years, never totally forgotten. In the 20st century quilling reappeared in the United States, and improved technically. De industrial revolution provided quillers with ready-made strips of papers, allowing them to concentrated themselves on the development of new shapes and technics. The ‘quill’ who was traditionally used for the rolling of the strips has been replaced by a specific quilling pen. A lot of other tools now exist for making new shapes completing the traditional rolled basic shapes. Quilling is still popular in the United-States and, in a lesser extent, in the United-Kingdom. It almost does not exist at all in the rest of Europe. But luckily, thanks to the internet it is now possible for everyone around the world to purchase all the supplies needed to practice this wonderful craft!