Chinese Paper Cutting

Chinese Paper Cutting

November 1, 2025

Chinese paper-cutting, known as jianzhi, is one of the oldest folk-arts from China and is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The art involves cutting patterns into paper using scissors or small blades. Paper cuts have historically been used as stencils for embroidery, templates for dying clothes with indigo prints, and to decorate walls, windows, and clothing. 


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Six Chinese papercut samples arranged in a collage. The top three are swimming goldfish in different poses and are multicolored in purples and yellows. The fourth is a papercut of a peacock standing in front of peonies. The fifth is a red papercut of a peach with a Chinese symbol in it. The sixth papercut shows a panda surrounded by bamboo. It is multicolored and is gilded with decorative gold leaf.

Douglass Morse Howell's Paper Armour Experimentation

Douglass Morse Howell's Paper Armour Experimentation

May 1, 2025

The artifact of the month for May is two pieces (2019.06.216a and 2019.06.216b) of experimentation with paper armor created by Douglass Morse Howell. This piece was donated by Alexandra Soteriou and collected while she was a studio assistant for Douglass Morse Howell in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It showcases his experimentation with flax and linen papermaking strength to try to make it as durable as armor.


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shows artifact 2019.06.216a and 2019.06.216b; experimental paper armour tests

Hyakunin Isshu Special Selection / no.1215 set of Karuta

Hyakunin Isshu Special Selection / no.1215 set of Karuta

March 1, 2025

The artifact of the month for March is the Hyakunin Isshu Special Selection / no.1215 set of Karuta handcrafted by Satoshi Tamura from the Tamura Shogundo studio in Kyoto, Japan. 

Satoshi Tamura and the Karuta Studio, Tamura Shogundo 


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3 pictures of the box and staged pictures of the cards

Larry B. Thomas Pop-Up Book, Dollhouse

Larry B. Thomas Pop-Up Book, Dollhouse

August 1, 2021

This month’s Artifact of the Month is a pop-up book by Atlanta-based artist Larry B. Thomas.


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The first pop-up scene of the book featuring a field and blue sky as the background with a variety of paper doll and magazine cutouts in the foreground.
The first open page of the book featuring a dining scene and the word, Dollhouse, under in an arch with a rat and a tiger peeking through a window in the background.
The cover of the book featuring the title, Dollhouse, as well as a tiled arch covering a policeman and cows in gas masks
The second pop-up scene with a collage of animals such as a monkey and fish as well as people and a dollhouse in front of a villa scene

Japanese Folding Fans

Japanese Folding Fans

May 1, 2018

This month's feature is a pair of Japanese folding fans.


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A Japanese folding fan painted gold with diamond shaped flowers painted in an arc across the fan and a baby blue stripe in the bottom right of the fan with gold flowers across
Japanese folding fan with a gold background and three baskets of flowers painted across the fan from left to right
Japanese folding fan with a gold background and two baskets of flowers painted across the fan from left to right

Japanese Washi Doll Set

Japanese Washi Doll Set

February 1, 2018

This month's feature is a set of Japanese washi dolls.


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On the left is a washi doll with a green robe holding a candle, on the right are two washi doll children playing together

Thomas Bewick Bird Woodblock

Thomas Bewick Bird Woodblock

August 1, 2017

This month's feature is a woodblock produced by Thomas Bewick, who is a well-known British engraver from the early 17th century


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Image of the woodblock with a white substance brushed over it to reveal the intricate details in the bird's feathers
A more recent image of the woodblock without the white powder defining the individual details of the print

Mizihiki Crane Ornament

Mizihiki Crane Ornament

July 1, 2017

This month's feature is a mizuhiki crane ornament.


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This image is of the whole ornament and the gold, silver, and red cords intricately woven into the shape of a crane with a long tale silver wings
An up close image of the crane's head and beak featuring intertwined red and gold cords
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