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Cartonnage Group |
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The History
"Cartonnage" or
the art of making decorative boxes from cardboard, was started around 1844 in
Valréas in the Vaucluse by a hairdresser, Ferdinand Revoul. He came up
with the idea of making cardboard boxes to be used in the silk worm industry.
The boxes were intended to store silk worm eggs or seeds. His boxes were such a
success that he decided to make boxes for other uses.
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Soon he could not cope with
orders so started to train others. Valréas carved itself a well-known
reputation in the field of "cartonnage". His factory and printing works were
constructed in 1871-1872 and he went on to invent the "ventilated box" for the
conservation and dispatch of silk worm eggs. In 1857 he took out a patent for a
"self-closing box" and at the 1863 Nimes exhibition was presented with a medal
for his innovations. From then on chemists, jewellers, and perfumers became
interested in his decorative boxes to present their wares. Cartonnage is still
flourishing at Valréas; a museum has been opened and there is a training
section for "Cartonniers" at the local technical school. |  |
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The present
In recent years, cartonnage has taken off in a big way as a leisure
occupation and a very absorbing hobby relying on creativity, innovation, skill
and dexterity. Not to mention the lucrative industry surrounding it supplying
the tools and a huge range of decorative covering papers. |
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Getting Started
There is a certain initial outlay in
tools and materials but this can be kept to a minimum. Cartonnage can be as
expensive, or as inexpensive, as you wish. But beware, once the bug bites
…
The necessary basic material (cardboard) is not easily found other
than in the specialised shops. These shops also sell the 'leather' looking
paper and some of the prettiest decorative papers ranging from the silky to the
delicate handmade. But wrapping paper, wallpaper, maps and fabrics may also be
used as well as ribbons, buttons, tassels, embroidery (preferably your own). |
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The possibilities are
vast and all contribute to making your finished article creative and personal.
Deciding, choosing, consulting the others in the class can be a lot of fun, but
fun is the whole point of the courses at the BCWA.
Many of the tools used can already
be found in the home, such as rubbers, propelling pencils, cloths. Or in your
tool boxes (you may even wish to raid your partner's tool box). The essentials
are a knife and blades (Stanley type) a folding tool, set square and
ruler. |
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The course
An eight-lesson course has been
developed to teach as many techniques as possible in order of difficulty. So
"learners" are not necessarily making what they would like to make or what they
think is useful. However, this does not preclude working or one or two things
at the same time, providing the techniques involved have already been covered.
The instructor is not an ogre (yet). |
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