AN ancient craft of the 14th century, parchment craft or pergamano is linked to making lace with paper through embossing and cutting. What began in an era such as that lost its significance and that of handmade art with the arrival of the industrial revolution. Brought to South America by the Catholic nuns to be made a part of craft education in schools, the art was formally revived in an organised way under Martha Ospina, the founder of Pergamano International.
Pergamano is now a common hobby in many cities across the world and has designated teachers in most certified under Pergamano International. Besides spreading the art form, certificate courses are provided under the teachers in every country through projects and study. Also conferences are held in the base country, Netherlands, where Martha Ospina now operates to discuss and display new techniques and the influences of the country’s art culture in the craft.
Pergamano is derived from the word pergamamum meaning parchment and mano meaning to make by hand. A variety of techniques are used to emboss, perforate, paint and cut a special parchment paper sourced from Netherlands that is grey in colour and turns white and rigid with the embossing.
Also available in different colours, the paper is sensitive to water and hence cannot be painted normally with the use of a lot of water. The items that can be made through this form of craft are many like cards, bookmarks, little boxes among others. The craft is on its way to another revival through many workshops and exhibitions in the metros where people are now going back to the arts.
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