Quilling is an art form that involves rolling, shaping and gluing strips of paper to create intricate designs. It is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt and then spread to Europe during the Renaissance. However, the modern technique of quilling is attributed to two individuals – the French and the English.
One of the earliest known quillers was a Frenchwoman named Madame de Maintenon. She lived in the late 17th century and used quilling to decorate the covers of books, boxes and other objects. Her work was so impressive that it caught the attention of the French court, and she was appointed as the head of a school to teach quilling to other women.
Another prominent figure in the history of quilling is an Englishwoman named Susan Frakes. In the early 20th century, she revived the art form and developed new techniques and designs. She worked tirelessly to promote quilling and even wrote a book on the subject. Her efforts helped to establish quilling as a legitimate art form and inspired countless others to take up the craft.
In recent years, quilling has experienced a resurgence in popularity. It has been embraced by artists and designers around the world, who use it to create everything from intricate paper portraits to large-scale installations. The techniques and materials have also evolved, with quillers experimenting with everything from metallic papers to 3D printers.
Despite its long history, quilling remains a vibrant and dynamic art form, constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with paper. Its inventors may have been from France and England, but it is now a truly global phenomenon, with quillers from all corners of the world sharing their creations and pushing the art form to new heights.