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Decoupage ordécoupage (/ˌdeɪkuːˈpɑːʒ/;[1]French:[dekupaʒ]) is theart of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with specialpaint effects,gold leaf, and other decorative elements. Commonly, an object like a small box or an item offurniture is covered by cutouts from magazines or from purpose-manufactured papers. Each layer is sealed withvarnishes (often multiple coats) until the "stuck on" appearance disappears and the result looks likepainting orinlay work. The traditional technique used 30 to 40 layers of varnish which were then sanded to a polished finish.[2]
Three dimensionaldecoupage (sometimes also referred to simply as decoupage) is theart of creating athree-dimensional (3D) image by cutting out elements of varying sizes from a series of identical images and layering them on top of each other, usually with adhesive foam spacers between each layer to give the image more depth. Pyramid decoupage (also called pyramage) is a process similar to 3D decoupage. In pyramid decoupage, a series of identical images are cut into progressively smaller, identical shapes which are layered and fixed with adhesive foam spacers to create a 3D "pyramid" effect.
A person who does decoupage is known as a decoupeur, or "cutter".
The word decoupage comes fromMiddle Frenchdecouper, meaning to cut out or cut from something. The origin of decoupage is thought to beEast Siberian tomb art.[3] Nomadic tribes used cut-out felts to decorate the tombs of their deceased. From Siberia, the practice came toChina, and by the 12th century, cut out paper was being used to decorate lanterns, windows, boxes and other objects. In the 17th century,Italy, especiallyVenice, was at the forefront of trade with the Far East and it is generally thought that it is through these trade links that the cut out paper decorations made their way into Europe.[4]
Artisans inFlorence, Italy, have produced decorative objects using decoupage techniques since the 18th century. They combined decoupage with other decorative techniques already popular in Florence, such asgilt withgold leaf andcarved wood designs. These older techniques were already used to produce articles such as furniture, frames for paintings, and eventooled leather book covers. Known as Florentine style crafts, these items are now highlycollectibleantiques. Florentine artisans made use of decoupage by adding it to the space within a carved gilt frame, or by adding the decoupage to a wooden plaque. Artisans used pasted reproductions of famous artworks, nearly alwaysreligious depictions. Florentinetriptychs using decoupage images of suchBiblical scenes as theCrucifixion of Jesus Christ are a commonmotif. As society became moresecular in the early 20th century, andnon–Roman Catholic tourists began buying more crafts from Florentine artisans, decoupage images became less religious in orientation and more reflective of famousItalian artworks in general.
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