Marble Dyeing Bookbinding: A Technique for Creating Unique Patterns
What is Marble Dyeing?
Have you ever heard of marble dyeing? It’s a special technique where several layers of paint float on the surface of a solution. Patterns are drawn using a comb or brush, and these patterns are then transferred onto paper.
History and Decline of Marbling
The marbling technique is believed to have originated in Turkey around the 15th century, later flourishing in Florence, Italy. In Japan, marbling has been used since the Meiji era (1868–1912), not only for its beauty but also for its practical use in preventing tampering in ledger books. By applying marbling to the book’s edges, or “koguchi” as it’s called in bookbinding terminology, it became difficult to duplicate or remove pages without detection.
However, with the rise of electronic media over the past 25 years, the demand for paper ledgers has drastically decreased, and marbled products are now rarely seen. Furthermore, with the shift to mandatory electronic bookkeeping this year, paper ledgers have become almost obsolete, pushing marbling to the brink of extinction—much like an endangered species.
Revival Efforts and the Marbling Process
Since 2022, our craftsmen have been rigorously learning this technique, honing their skills in-house to apply marbling to our original products. Here’s a quick overview of the process:
1. Apply the base paint to the surface of the solvent.
2. Add layers of different paints to form the initial pattern.
3. Use a comb to create more intricate designs.
4. Gently place the paper onto the solvent to transfer the pattern.
5. Lift the patterned paper and allow it to dry slowly.
6. The dried paper is then used as a cover for hardcover books.
Although the training took time out of their regular work schedule, our craftsmen have significantly improved. In the summer and fall of 2023, we proudly showcased limited-edition products featuring this technique at stationery sales events.
Marbled Notebooks and Expanding Skills
We first started with marbled covers for notebooks, using a top-binding style. As our craftsmen’s skills advanced, we were able to apply marbling to the cut edges of our notebooks as well. This part of the process, especially with rounded corners, requires delicate and precise techniques to ensure a high-quality finish.
Currently, only two of our employees have mastered this technique, but we are in the process of training other young employees in their spare time. Each person’s unique sense of color and pattern will lead to the creation of various one-of-a-kind designs, and as the technique spreads, more “once-in-a-lifetime” patterns will be created.
Limited Edition Sales and OEM Services
We sell a limited number of marbling notebooks in our online store as a limited-edition product by lottery with a limited number of entries, although this is an irregular event. We also offer OEM services for original marbling-dyed notebooks, so if you are interested, please feel free to contact us by email.