The Art of Marbler is a British educational film from 1970 offering an in-depth look at paper marbling, a centuries-old technique used to create incredible visual effects. As soon as the film begins, you will be transported into an almost hypnotic vortex of designs and lines.
Paper Marbling is an elaborate technique used to decorate paper with specific colours and patterns to imitate marble, from which it takes its name. The surface of the paper is dipped into a tray of water in which colours prepared by the artist float and are literally dragged and arranged into patterns using sharp sticks.
However, the story told in the film is even more exciting. It was made by Douglas Cockerell & Son, a company that restored precious old books. The Cockerell family also boasts a long line of creative individuals and artists, including Douglas’ brother, a curator and good friend of the “grandfather” of the Arts & Crafts movement, John Ruskin. The film was also directed by K.V. Whitbread and the amazing designs were created by the craftsman William Chapman.