Silk Paper Making in Uzbekistan

The process of silk paper making in Uzbekistan has been brought back to life! On the outskirts of Samarkand, there is a workshop dedicated to this historical craft. This workshop is in-fact the only silk paper making workshop in Central Asia.

I was lucky enough to visit this picturesque workshop one month ago, and I would love to tell you a bit more about the process…..

First, the inner bark of a Mulberry tree branch is stripped and then run along the edge of a knife to reveal only the inner material. This bark is then boiled in a large open vat for approximately 5 hours until is has softened. Once this has been done, the strips are then pulped with the help of a large watermill powered wooden arm. The weight of the arm helps break up the strips into finer pieces. The pulp is now added to water and sieved into a special frame and then left to dry. Once the drying process has finished, the paper is pressed for 24 hours. The finishing touch is to polish the sheet of paper - usually with a large shell or a piece of smooth marble.

In the same building, a selection of the finished papers can be purchased. I purchased 4 sheets of the natural paper (no colouring added) which will eventually be turned into my own pieces of art. The silk paper has a very long lifespan also. It can last thousands of years according to the makers. But I am just thrilled to have seen the process and know that the craft has not been lost.