Papier-mâché: An Interesting and Enduring Technique

Papier-mâché, meaning “chewed paper” in French, is a building material that is made up of pieces of paper pasted together with one of several forms of simple adhesive. The original, and most cost effective, way to produce papier-mâché involves combining flour and water to create a thick, creamy paste. Paper is torn or cut, forming thin strips, which are then dipped into the paste. The paste covered strips of paper are then applied onto the desired surface and left to air dry. The surfaces most often covered in papier-mâché are wire frames, or objects that are going to be used as a mold and then removed, allowing the new structure to stand alone. When the papier-mâché project is completely dry, it becomes surprisingly durable, and can be manipulated in any number of ways. The more popular techniques used on the finished material include painting, cutting, sanding and waterproofing.

While papier-mâché was once a commercial product, used to build everything from houses to canoes, it has become much more of a creative arts and crafts technique today.

Elementary school children often learn the art of papier-mâché in class. The most common craft for kids involves molding the paste covered paper over balloons. When the substance is dry, the balloons are popped and removed, leaving a solid structure in the shape of the object which can then be decorated with paint, glitter and other bits and pieces. Children also employ this paper craft when making Halloween or masquerade masks, using their own faces as the mold so that the finished mask will fit perfectly.

Papier-mâché is an interesting building material that has been used through the ages in many places. Because it is an economical technique that nearly anyone can master, papier-mâché will likely still be around for many years to come.