Traditional joss is cut into individual squares or rectangles. Each square of paper has either a thin piece of square foil glued to its center or it may be endorsed with a red ink seal from a traditional Chinese seal. The foil is either silver or gold, and they are equally beautiful and spare.
In my old house, I had papered the bathroom door with squares of this beautiful paper and then varnished it over. I am sure the new owners didn't keep it! 
The great thing about joss paper is that it's cheap! I am talking 500 sheets for $5.00 cheap. Sheets are about 5 x 7 inches, but you can also get them in larger 8 x 10 or 10 x 15 inch sizes. Whenever I am at Pearl River Mart in NYC, I always pick up a stack or two. Not to burn them in honour of my ancestors, but to use for decorating projects. Check out Pear River's blog post about Joss Paper, which is sometimes called tea paper.
I think that a small bathroom papered with the cream and silver paper would be gorgeous.
They are FOOLS if they got rid of that door.
ReplyDeletemeg- you must be a mind reader! i just ordered a pack of the silver to investigate using it as wall panels a client's bedroom (before i commit, i wanted to show my client a sample of it pasted on a board). how did you apply the paper? i was going to try spray mount with an acrylic topcoat.
ReplyDeletecrazy coincidence!
I love joss paper! Unfortunately, my supply is in my storage unit back in Texas. Do you have a photo of your bathroom?
ReplyDeleteM21... I applied it with ModPodge and then coated it with a matte ModPodge.
ReplyDeleteJust... I wish a had a photo, but I never got around to it.
I had never heard of this paper before, it sounds fabulous! I'll have to be on the lookout!
ReplyDeleteIf your city has a Chinatown, shops there will probably carry a variation of this. Failing that, you can order it on-line at Pearl River Mart in New York.
ReplyDeleteoh, i'd love to see that door. I've seen this done on a ceiling before too
ReplyDeleteThat would make great wallpaper. Looking forward to seeing what else you'll be doing with it.
ReplyDeleteWow! That was inspirational. And especially considering the state of the economy. Mrs. E. and I have wanted to silver leaf a wall or ceiling and haven't been able to commit. This might be the economical solution we've been looking for.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried using that kind of paper before.. but your post is very interesting.. can you post some pics of your bathroom so that i can have some ideas too? thanks.. :)
ReplyDeletePaint... unfortunately, i don't have a picture of the bathroom door. i was moving out of the country and i just never thought to take one! i wish that i had. it was a gorgeous piece of "art".
ReplyDeleteJoss paper sounds like something out of a Somerset Maugham short story, no?
ReplyDeleteYou've started a new trend with this post, I suspect. I had a friend send me one piece of this in a letter years ago and I kept it pinned up until the last move. Now I know where to get more. I think I'll use it on a piece of furniture.
ReplyDeleteI always send friends hell money for Chinese New Year. Love Pearl River.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was sixteen, without discussing it with my parents, I painted Aubrey Beardsley's Salome on my bedroom door. Now there's a door I know got painted over when my parent's sold the house.
Thanks!! I love this paper and have used it in collage and handmade greeting cards, but I never knew the name! I bought some in Chinatown when I first moved to NYC, some 17 or 18 years ago. It is wonderful -- and it really is cheap, so you feel like you can use it.
ReplyDeleteA number of superstitions surround joss paper in Asian society. As a general rule, you should never give joss paper to a living person, because this is viewed as highly offensive, and joss paper is also kept concealed when it is stored at home, because it is supposed to bring down bad luck when left on display. Joss paper should never be used for anything other than its intended purpose, and while Westerners may be tempted to use it for decorating, they should be aware that Asian guests may be offended or feel uncomfortable when joss paper is on display, as it is associated with death.
ReplyDeleteI tried to buy Joss paper at an asian grocery store, I had no idea it was for burning at funerals and ceremonies. I was getting strange looks at the asian people in the store while I was picking it out. I got up to the register and the woman gave me a strange look and asked me if I knew what they are used for. I said no, because I thought it was just pretty paper! She rolled her eyes and said it is to give to someone who has died! I was so embarrassed! She actually took it and pushed it aside like she didn't want me buying it so I respected her feelings and decided to just put it back. I googled it when I came home to learn more about it. Although it is gorgeous paper and I would have loved it use it for my collages I am going to stay respectful of the Asian community and their feelings regarding it. Wish there was something just like it to use for my artwork without offending anyone!
ReplyDeleteDollCandy, I had the EXACT same experience at a Chinese market. Two women were really sharp with me when I went to buy an innocuous-looking little bundle of pretty paper...made me feel like a totally culturally insensitive fool. I blushed, but bought it anyway and did what you did and Googled it when I got home. And folks, while it is beautiful, keep in mind that if you have east Asian friends visiting and you've got this stuff on display in a craft project, they're probably going to be offended. Sort of like somebody collecting the prayer cards handed out at Catholic funerals and cutting them up for scrapbook stuff. Still, it's gorgeous paper!
ReplyDeletegrew up in asia, I had many experiences burning joss paper as they are used quite often in festivals. My parents even taught me how to fold the joss paper before burning, for each festival, there are different kinds of joss paper and there is rules on the orders of each joss paper to be burned/ offered. My mom would be mad at me if I did it wrong. :)) joss paper with gold paper on it is to offer to ancestors and gods usually during festivals and the 15th or 16th of each month in Chinese calendar; joss paper with silver paper on it is used to offer to spirits and ghosts, usually in death ceremonies and ghost month ( 7th month of Chinese calendar. They represents our respects to the other worlds whether underground or above the sky. I once got a thank you card made of joss paper from a western friend then I understand joss paper to westerners is just Asian style pretty paper. I was not offended.. no... actually felt like home as I am far away from it now. However, I would suggest to stay out of joss paper with silver paper on it ( we cold it ghost money/ hell money) though if you are to pass out as a present to your friends from asia, we will think it's unlucky for sure :)))
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