RADHA PANDEY
Chapri Weaving
2015
I decided to start by using bamboo skewers, and pulling each one through a draw plate to get the required diameter. For 266 splints, this took about a month.
This beautiful weaving stand has been made by Timothy Barrett. On it, one is able to weave a flexible mould surface of any size.
In addition, I made a few student-grade chapris from the readily available sushi mats. Dowels were sewn onto the ends just as in the traditional screens.
I decided to start by using bamboo skewers, and pulling each one through a draw plate to get the required diameter. For 266 splints, this took about a month.
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Indo-Islamic Papermaking utilizes a flexible mould surface very similar to that of Japanese and Korean papermaking traditions. This was traditionally made using hollow reeds and grasses growing by river banks, and were woven using horse hair. For the purposes of a primary research experiment, I decided to use store-bought bamboo skewers drawn down to a particular diameter to weave a chapri. This was then further simplified to make a student-grade version of the screens for class use.