Paperblanks Blue Velvet/Pear Garden Washi Tape – Pack of 2

Add a flourish of colour and artistry to journal spreads, cards and gift wrap with this Blue Velvet/Pear Garden washi tape set from Paperblanks.

Using authentic Japanese washi tape paper, metallic foiling and a touch of varnish for protection, our Blue Velvet/Pear Garden washi tape set will bring a pop of colour to your bullet journal spread. This double-pack is inspired by two antique textile designs.

The Story Behind the Design

Blue Velvet

Our Blue Velvet design is inspired by a piece of a 15th-century velvet dalmatic. The original panel was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Rogers Fund in 1945. It is patterned with a seven-lobed shield that contains an artichoke-like botanical shape adorned with tiny floral patterns on each side. The patterning was created using brocaded gilt metal thread.

Velvets were originally woven on a special loom that created two thicknesses at the same time in order to achieve their marvellously soft texture. It was an expensive and painstaking procedure, making velvets like this some of the most highly prized luxury fabrics of the Renaissance.

Peking Opera Embroidery: Pear Garden

The dramatic art tradition of opera traces its roots to the earliest periods of ancient China. During the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the Emperor Taizong founded an opera school called Liyuan (Pear Garden), establishing opera’s importance in the country.

By the 20th century, Peking Opera had become so popular that it was regarded as the “national theatre” of China. Sadly, the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 led to its sharp decline as entertainment took a back seat amidst political and cultural upheaval. In sharing this colourful piece of opera costume, we hope to help tell the story of the Chinese musicians and performers who played an important role in developing opera as we know it today.

• Original artwork: Velvet panel from a dalmatic / Chinese opera costume
• Era: Late 15th century / Late 19th century
• Region: Italy / China

Product Details

• Dimensions: 15 × 45 × 45 mm
• Design: Blue Velvet/Pear Garden
• Series: Washi Tape Mixed Pack
• Pack of two complementary designs
• Authentic Japanese washi tape paper
• Decorative metallic foiling
• 10 metres of high-quality patterned tape per roll
• Weight: 30 g
• Product code: PA8161-6 | ISBN: 9781439781616

About Paperblanks

Paperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts, bringing the same care and craftsmanship found in its celebrated journals to every accessory.