Paper Mache is a French derivative to denote a substance made out of pulped paper with measured portions of glue among other materials. Another way of making paper mache art is by piling up layers of paper with continuous gluing and pressing. They are then moulded when moist to form variously shaped objects or articles, which dry up to be hard and strong. Carton- pierre is paper mache that has been designed to resemble hard objects like wood, metal or stone.

It is very easy to make paper mache pulp, which forms the most important ingredient for paper mache art. Paper mache pulp can be made in the following easy steps:-

-                                                                   2 parts flour is mixed with 1 part water to obtain a liquid consistency paste.

-                                                                   It is properly mixed and dissolved with adequate water to prevent any lumps.

-                                                                   A few tablespoons of salt or a portion of clove oil can be added to this paste to avoid the development of mold.

There are other methods of obtaining paper mache pulp by experimenting with liquid resin, cornstarch, wallpaper paste, plaster of paris etc.  To make art using this paper mache pulp, the paper (usually newspaper) is soaked in the paste, and applied over a skeleton structure in layers (created using wire, mesh etc) or mixed together with the pulp to obtain a large dough which is then moulded.

A look into the historical aspect of how the whole concept of three dimensional paper mache art came into existence proves to be most interesting. Paper was the Chinese invention which happened at the beginning of the 2^nd century AD at China. During the 8^th century, the trade of paper making with rags, old fishing nets and other waste materials was passed on by the Chinese prisoners, who were caught by Persians at Samarcanda. Thus, the art of paper mache was born. From the base of Samarcanda, paper mache art techniques spread through Damask in Morocco to Spain, France and Germany by the end of the 10^th century. By this time, paper had completely replaced papyrus.

From the latter half of the 17^th century, as more and more paper mache art products were imported to the west from the east, the French craftsman realised the great potential of the material of paper mache. The Europeans followed in the call of the French. And at about 1670, this interest spread to Great Britain too. The earliest paper mache art created were snuff boxes that were imported from France to Germany (around the beginning of the 18^th century). In the year 1830, paper mache art items were made in Russia as an imitation to the English crafts.

Modern day usage of Paper mache has almost been confined to the creation of large-sized art sculptures like carnival floats, theatrical props etc. Carnival floats are very large moving sculptures with good detailing and most often themed.  Paper mache is used to cover the skeleton structure of the float which is usually made of wood, metal and wire. The details are added when the paper mache dries. It is then sanded and painted.