Découpaging through the ages

Découpage emerged from such diverse sources as Chinese paper art, Siberian felt appliqués and the Polish folk art of paper cutting. Découpage as we know it originated in 17th century France as a decoration of bookcases, cabinets, keepsake boxes, fans, screens and other personal items. In the 18th century it was a fashionable hobby for Italian, French and English ladies. It was used in the 1920s by French Art Deco designer JeanMichel Frank and was popular in the United States during the 1960s on boxes, trays, wastebaskets, lampshades, chests, and screens.