The use of Oriental paper in the restoration of Western artefacts

In Fabriano, the city of western paper par excellence, in the evocative Sala Forme of the Fabriano paper mill complex, headquarters of the Fedrigoni Fabriano Foundation, the event ‘Fabriano between history and innovation’ was held for the second year in May, with the conference ‘The use of oriental paper in the restoration of western artefacts. […]

In Fabriano, the city of western paper par excellence, in the evocative Sala Forme of the Fabriano paper mill complex, headquarters of the Fedrigoni Fabriano Foundation, the event ‘Fabriano between history and innovation’ was held for the second year in May, with the conference ‘The use of oriental paper in the restoration of western artefacts. Comparing traditions and techniques in Fabriano’.

Leading specialists in the sector illustrated the history of Japanese and Korean papermaking and their application on important case studies concerning works of art on paper. Enriching the scientific debate were two master papermakers who demonstrated live, through the use of traditional instruments, the manufacturing technique and distinctive characteristics of ‘washi’, Japanese handmade paper, and western, Fabriano paper.

Among those who contributed in various ways to the success of the initiative were Stefania Zeppieri, restorer of works on paper, books and archives, who runs the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory set up in Fabriano a year ago at the Foundation’s headquarters, and speakers Marinita Stiglitz, Head of Paper Conservation at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford; Maria Vera Quattrini, Restorer Central Institute for Restoration (ICR); Chiara Fornaciari da Passano, Head of the Vatican Museums’ Paper Restoration Laboratory; Nobushige Akiyama, Japanese artist and papermaker; and Sandro Tiberi, Western artist and papermaker.