Pictures and decorative quilled objects in Ho Chi Minh City’s souvenir shops

Once a high-society preserve, the art has broken class and gender boundaries en route to becoming a thriving occupation.

In Vietnam, where it was introduced about two decades ago, it has grown at a fast pace, and works are even exported, testifying to the skills of local artisans.

A salesman at a local shop selling quilling souvenirs said the art originated in Europe in the 14th-15th centuries.

It is generally believed that the art appeared in France and Italy in the 15th century, spread throughout Europe and later to the US.

Some, however, say the art came into being after China invented paper in the year 150, and there are those who maintain the art was also found in ancient Egypt.

According to artisan Dao Thi Minh, who has crafted quilling products since the art was introduced into Vietnam, French and Italian nuns rolled torn edges of Bible books and goose feathers to decorate book covers and religious items in the 16-17th centuries.

The paper most commonly used was strips of paper trimmed from the gilded edges of books. These gilded paper strips were then rolled to create the quilled shapes.

They also used rolled paper to recreate complicated metallic decorative items or carved ivory items. Quilling often imitated the original ironwork of the day.

In 18th century Europe, quilling was known and practiced as a non-taxing activity for gentlewomen of the leisurely class.

While it became a fad picked up at school, working women couldn’t afford to practice it. The metal sheets, mica and shell-fish which form the background of a quilling painting were beyond their reach.

The art

A Wikipedia entry explains: Quilling, or paper filigree, is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. The paper is wound around a quill to create a basic coil shape. The paper is then glued at the tip and the shaped coils are arranged to form flowers, leaves, and various ornamental patterns similar to ironwork.

Quilling is used to adorn the surface of several objects. It can be done very simply, or by using several levels of paper to create more depth. It is commonly used to decorate greeting cards, gift boxes and similar items, but quilling paintings by themselves have become popular gifts as well as collector’s items.

“It takes meticulous care to make quilling products. For example, the artisan skillfully rolls the paper to make a petal as realistic as possible,” says Huu Tien, a quilling worker.

“It takes a skilled worker up to three months to finish a 60cm x 90cm painting. The handmade products fetch relatively high prices, from VND180,000-3.5 million (US$10-192) apiece,” says Phan Ngoc Minh, director of Nhat Nguyet Co. which helped introduce quilling into Vietnam in 1990.

“As a child, I always desired to have the paper birds my friends had and dreamed of making similar products one day,” says Minh, director of Nhat Nguyet Co., one of the pioneers of quilling in Vietnam.

“When I studied abroad, I saw some artists dexterously decorate greeting cards with quilled papers. The idea of introducing quilling to Vietnam flashed in my mind and I tried to memorize the method,” Minh said.

Minh’s company now exports quilling products to several countries and has won the 2004 Golden V award given away annually by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to honor innovative, beautiful and economically profitable handicrafts.

The art and craft of quilling has gone through many transformations and changes over the years, and now employs new techniques, styles and materials. Many artists now create 3D items with dimensional quilling.

Already featured in leading art galleries in Europe and America, the art is set to grow further as quillers’ guilds are set up in all parts of the world. This augurs well for skilled workers in Vietnam, offering the potential for greater exposure, recognition and economic benefits.

Reported by Diem Thu