Nepali Lokta Block Print Paper: Fish Patterned
Note: Our minimum order is $ 5 for handmade papers (any combination of designs). Thank you for your understanding!
This paper features woodblock stamped fish in black and red. Fish are considered auspicious in Nepal, associated with fertility, abundance, and prosperity, symbolizing nature's richness and life's continuity.
Lotka paper is handmade and sustainable, sourced from the bark of the Daphne Cannabina or Daphne Papyracea bush (lokta) without harming the roots. The bush is found at high altitudes in the Himalayas, its bark boiled and pulped in villages, the pulp then spread on wood screened frames held in ponds and shaken to even out the pulp. The frames are then removed from water and left in the sun to dry, the resulting paper then peeled off.
Patterns are created using hand-carved wooden blocks or stamps. The more complicated the pattern, the more skill is involved.
Due to the process of the paper making and printing, each sheet will have natural imperfections, some of our paper thicker than others with the same patterns, and at least one thicker on one end than the other. There is some plant fiber attached to some papers. There are ink spots. Sizes of paper vary slightly. They are as one person online describes them ‘perfectly imperfect.’
Several of ours have folds or creases and will be mailed folded. To flatten out the paper, you can iron it on a low setting with a cloth barrier, or place it under a heavy weight for a few days. A light misting with water can help relax the paper fibers before flattening as well.
We have three sheets of this design, height ranging from 25 1/2-26” and length approx. 18 3/4”. Weight is 6-7g per piece.
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.