Laid paper?

Hi all,my first post on here and hope you don't laugh. I found a picture that appears to be on laid paper. Very rough condition. Just would like to get opinion. I can answer ? Or send more pics. Thank you

 

Welcome to Antiquers, Buddie!

Can you take a closeup shot of the paper with a light source behind, like a bright window?

It looks to me like it might be mulberry paper or rice paper.

 

Siamese souvenir item, I'm guessing those and similar are still in production and can be purchased in Bangkok or anywhere tourists can be found in the country. Paper is most likely one of the kinds already mentioned, handmade in-country as well.

 

Thanks for your help,I'm sure you are right. I was just curious. I have a different item I will post soon that just may stump you It won't let send another pic. It says file is to large ?

 

You need to resize to less than 1Mb.

 

Welcome!

 

Window pic

 

Thank you for the warm welcome

 

I'm not positive, but I do think the paper is likely mulberry paper, made from the bark of the mulberry tree. Thailand is a major source for the paper.

The closeup with the light behind does show some parallel lines like you'd see in laid paper, but to my eye, doesn't look quite right for that.

The mulberry paper I have is relatively thick, and easy to shape, especially when damp. It would lend itself to the embossing on your piece.

 

Thank you for the reply. If it is mulberry when would you date it?

 

Mulberry paper is still being made today. I don't know when they first started making it.

 

The print shown could have been made any time after about 1965.

 

Spring, why after 1965?

 

There's a whole class of Asian souvenirs that seem to have begun appearing in quantities when large numbers of servicemen and others connected with US involvement in Southeast Asia began arriving in-theater. The combined disposable incomes of these servicemen and support people was a huge amount of money and the souvenir makers and vendors were eager to tap into it. The Siamese rice paper elephant Army rubbing was just one of countless new items I saw in military exchanges, in shops, on street vendor stands etc when I was deployed to Southeast Asia in early 1970s.

 

Ah, that makes sense.

 

Smart guy