Study Trip Part 3: Decorated Paper in London
The third station of Theresa Zischkin’s research trip to the UK brought her to London, where she spent a rewarding week from Monday to Saturday immersed in the city’s rich manuscript collections and artistic treasures.
In the Asian and African Study Room of the British Library, Theresa examined an extraordinary variety of decorated papers: from gold-dusted text panels framed by delicate gold-sprinkled margins to colourful stencils featuring floral and zoomorphic elements. One day was devoted entirely to official documents and letters – remarkable in their own right – the surfaces of which showcased silver-sprinkling and gold-flecking.
A highlight of the week came in the Print Room, where Theresa studied folios of the famous Johnson albums, even discovering marbled animals among the pages. The team’s support was invaluable – warm thanks go to the entire library staff of the Asian and African Study Room, as well as to Simran Bance of the Print Room for their kind assistance. We would also like to extend our particular gratitude to Ursula Sims-Williams, who not only prepared the requested manuscripts in advance and provided photography permissions but also generously took time to discuss the project and explore possibilities for future collaborations.
Theresa also devoted half a day to the Royal Asiatic Society, where she had the privilege of examining a codex adorned with marvellously colourful stencils, alongside a Safina whose silver-sprayed stencil designs captivated her attention. Our thanks go to the Royal Asiatic Society and especially to James Liu, who kindly accommodated her in the study room and ensured the use of all necessary equipment.
Outside of her academic work, Theresa enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of London’s streets. The “Treasures” exhibition of the British Library proved particularly rewarding when spotting a wonderful manuscript made of decorated paper. One evening, she visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, where she strolled through the Islamic art gallery before exploring the Cartier exhibition. Many of the displayed jewels bore fascinating ties to Islamic and Persian art, presented alongside models that illuminated their design processes. A special highlight was the Japanese section, where a katagami stencil for textiles resonated beautifully with her research on decorated paper. The day was rounded off in classic London style: with a scone and tea in the museum’s ornate café hall. She spent her last day in the British Museum, enjoying the collections and temporary exhibitions.
Theresa’s week in London marked significant progress in her PhD research. Over the coming weeks, she will turn to the task of entering the newly analysed manuscripts into the project’s database – ensuring that these discoveries find their place within the broader narrative of GLOBAL DECO PAPER.