The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Last updated 4/9/2024

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Paper Frills / Paper Ruffles / Manchettes / Candle Decorations / Trees
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of the fold and slit design which, depending on the size of the paper used can function as a Paper Frill (aka Paper Ruffle or/ Manchette), a Candle Decoration or a Tree. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

Paper Frills, Ruffles or Manchettes

Paper Frills, Ruffles or Manchettes are fold and slit designs that are nowadays used to decorate the ends of joints of meat, particularly crown roasts of pork, but are said to have originally served a more practical purpose. Thus Wikipedia 'Manchettes were originally of practical use: they allowed a cut of meat to be held with one hand securely and without the hand becoming greasy, leaving the other hand free to carve meat from the bone.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchette_(cuisine).

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1835

There is mention of paper ruffles on hams in the American periodical Godey's Lady Book of December 1835 in a story entitled 'Mrs. Allington's Pic Nic'.

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1855

'The Practical Housewife' by Robert Kemp Philp, published by Ward and Lock in London in 1855 contains several references to prresenting meat for the table using paper ruffles / frills.

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1869

Volume 1 of 'Cassell's Household Guide', which was published in 1869, containa three illustrations showing paper frills attached to various cuts of meat, although these frills are not mentioned in the main text.

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1889

This design also appears in 'Jeux et Travaux Enfantins - Première partie: Le Monde en Papier' by Marie Koenig and Albert Durand was published by Librairie Classique A. Jeande in Paris in 1889, where the design is variously referred to as Manches de Gigot / Boubeches / Pompons.

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1894

'Jeux et Occupations Pour les Petits: Guide des Mères et des Institutrices' by Henriette Suzanne Brés was published by Librairie Classique Fernand Nathan in Paris in 1894, describes how to make 'Les manchettes'..

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Candle Decorations

1876

The same basic design appears as a way of making a candle decoration in 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' by E Barth and W Niederley, which was first published in Bielefeld and Leipzig, and the foreword of which is dated October 1876.

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1891

This candle decoration also appears in 'Pleasant Work for Busy Fingers' by Maggie Browne, which was published by Cassell and Company in London in 1891. This book is an English version of 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' enhanced by the addition of a few extra designs.

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1894

'Jeux et Occupations Pour les Petits: Guide des Mères et des Institutrices' by Henriette Suzanne Brés was published by Librairie Classique Fernand Nathan in Paris in 1894, describes how to make 'bobeches' (drip catchers) for candles.

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Trees

1937

The same method is used to create a palm tree in Margaret Campbell's 'Paper Toy Making', which was first published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd in London in 1937.

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