CARTA PURA - Simply good paper

Chiyogami, Katazome, Urushi, Tsumugi, Satogami – all these are names for Japanese papers, summarized as „washi“ in Japanese. The Japanese classify many things like life style, food or paper in two main categories: those originating in Japan (wa) and those from the Western hemisphere (yo). Thus, washi basically means all papers made in Japan, regardless of being hand-made or machine-made.

 

We have been selling white Japanese papers for a long time which have since been expanded. There are machine-made sheets like Genshi, which is suitable for all kinds of printing. We sell paper rolls such as Kozu and Unryo, which are mainly used for manufacturing the typical Shoji walls. And we stock very fine, hand-made and air-dried, acid free papers like Kizuki or Nishino, consisting of 100% domestic Kozu, satisfying the highest standards for restoration and Fine Arts.

 

The silkscreen-printed Chiyogami papers exist in an overwhelming variety of patterns and colour combinations in Japan. Right from the beginning we made a special selection from this exuberance, nevertheless, showing all aspects of that brilliant paper. There are minimalistic-geometrical patterns, playful-tiny motifs or gorgeous ornamental designs. We regularly enlarge our range searching for new Chiyogami which are as yet unknown in Europe. Moreover, we stock a wide range of original Chiyogami sample booklets, from which we can do extra orders.

 

Similar patterns can be found in Katazome papers. These are printed in Kyoto where all the Chiyogami studios are located too. However, Katazome has a different appearance. Its base paper is a hand-made Kozu which can easily be recognized by the deckle-edges. The printing process of Katazome is very intricate due to a mixture of stencil and silk screen print. Within our range we also carry some custom-made papers which are printed exclusively for CARTA PURA. Katazome can be used for the same purpose as Chiyogami: as cover material, Origami, decoration and – for very special gifts – also as wrapping paper.

 

Some years ago our hand-printed assortment was added to with another high quality silk-screen print: a lacquer paper called Urushi. Typically, it is a red lacquer pattern which is fixed on the black surface print. CARTA PURA additionally produces sheets with black lacquer patterns, resulting in a sophisticated black-on-black design. In Japan Urushi is popular as cover material not only for boxes, but also for trays and tins, books and albums.

 

Concerning the machine-made section of single-coloured Japanese papers we distribute two different materials. First, the so-called Satogami with a weight of 80 g/qm, a solid yet smooth paper with a small percentage of bamboo. The colours have a slightly cloudy appearance and the surface offers a mat, velvet touch. We use this paper as cover for note books, cases and boxes. Our bookbinder customers also value this multi-purpose paper available in 24 interesting shades.

 

The second paper is called Tsumugi, it also has 24 tones which are stronger and brighter. The surface has an embossing similar to Japanese silk fabric, giving the paper a textile appearance. With its 140 g/qm it is suitable for all coating purposes. It is frequently applied as background for photo arrangements. We use this sturdy paper as cover for the CARTA PURA diaries.

 

Besides the full size sheets we sell most of the afore mentioned papers also as Origami-Set: Satogami and two different compilations of both Chiyogami and Katazome. Usually, Origami-sets are made out of inferior rest cuts, assorted according colour. CARTA PURA, however, cuts the complete large sheet down to 15 x 15 cm, arranging the papers subject to paper families and fixing the cuts with a stripe of white Kozu. Mostly, these small paper collections are used for Origami, but they are also suitable for collage and scrap books.