EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS PAINTINGS

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Facsimile Copy of the Edwin Smith Medical Papyrus, Original Dating from circa 1600-1500 BC: The Giclee printing process delivers a fine stream of ink resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for museum or gallery display. This art print is produced on a heavy 310 gsm, acid-free and watercolor textured paper.

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* Egypt is the only country in the world that produces original papyrus.

* Papyrus sales represent 20% of the tourism sales in Egypt .

* First papyrus was manufactured as early as the first Egyptian Dynasty, circa 3000.

* The kings of Egypt controlled the papyrus production.

* Egypt used to supply to the Greeks, the Romans, the Indians and most of the civilized ancient world.

* The Papyrus of Ani was painted in Egypt about 1250 BC. It represents the best preserved, longest, most ornate, and beautifully executed example of the form of Mortuary Text known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

* The papyrus manufacturing process has not changed a bit in four thousands years.

* Papyrus remained the writing material of the Mediterranean world until it was eclipsed by the cloth paper of the Orient in the ninth century A.D., bringing four thousand years of writing tradition to an end.

* Today papyrus is still manufactured on a small scale, and primarily for art.

Technically, papyrus is a substance made from the fibers of reeds that only grow on the delta of the Egyptian Niles. This manufacturing process has not changed in last 4000 years!

First one soaks the papyrus in Nile water to soften the skin of the reed - this makes the foundation of the papyrus paper. Then such soaked papyrus is piled and divided into pieces about a foot long. Then they are soaked again in Nile river water to keep the reed soft. Then below steps followed:

* Remove outer green skin from stalk
* Cut inner pith into long thin strips
* Pound strips to break down fibers
* Soak again for three days in water

* Cut strips to length
* Lay them overlapping on fabric, preferably cotton
* Use one layer horizontal and the other vertical

* Place material sheets between two absorbent plates
* Stack them up and leave in the Sun
* Replace absorbent barriers every 8 hours
* Continue process until papyrus dries

* Remove papyrus from the press the Papyrus
* This ca now be used for painting pictures
* One an apply oil or gouache colors, inks or paint
* And now you can write in "Hieroglyphic"

Good quality papyrus is an excellent medium to express art. Commercial production of papyrus survives today to only serve the artist community all over the world. It has even found use in celluloid - a very large quantity of blank papyrus was used in the production of the movie Alexander, starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie!

While there are online stores and shops, the best place to buy blank papyrus at best price in my view is eBay. At eBay, an established seller has to stay concerned about his reputation and can't give you unoriginal papyrus. Also, I think eBay offers the best pricing. Give it a shot.