Main Index Page

Last updated 30/7/2025

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Note that information about the making of Paper Flowers, which are often rotationally symmetric designs where the paper is first folded, then cut to create the petals, then opened out to reveal a flower, has not been added to this page (or site) at present.

There is a separate page about Fold and One Cut Designs which are usually also examples of this class of design..

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Fold and Cut Animals and Human Figures / Fold, Cut and Fold Animals and Human Figures - 1762 onwards

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Fold and Cut Friezes - 1833 onwards

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Paper Doilies - 1833 onwards

I define Paper Doilies as perforated designs cut or torn from squares that possess eightfold rotational symmetry.

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A fold and cut design that resembles a flower, although it is called a Candle Ornament, appears in 'The Girl's Own Book' by Lydia Marie Child, which was published by Clark Austin and Co in New York in 1833. This design is included on this page as it appears to be an early forerunner of the Paper Doily design.

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1840

'The School Boy's Holiday Companion' by T Kentish, which was published by Relfe and Fletcher in London in 1840, contains instructions for making a fold and two cut sixteen pointed star.

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Fold and Cut Mon / Japanese Crests - 1841 onwards

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The Froebelian Occupation of Ausschneiden und Aufkleben / Cutting Out and Mounting - 1855 onwards

These are rotationally symmetric designs, where the paper is first folded, then cut, and opened out. Originally, both the main piece and any other pieces separated by the cuts were then mounted on paper or board to create a pattern.

Details of similar papercuts and tears with up to eight- fold symmetry are included on this page even though they may not be mounted with the extra pieces in the way originally intended by Froebel.

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The Cut and Fold Model Aeroplane - 1886 onwards

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1887

'The Home Book for Very Little People' by J H Vincent, which was published by Phillips and Hunt in New York in 1887, contains instructions for making a 'Paper Mat Like a Water Lily'.

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As a way of cutting symmetrical vase forms - 1888 onwards

This technique appears in the 'Teacher's Manual for Prang's Shorter Course in Form Study and Drawing, by John S Clark, Mary Dana Hicks and Walter S Perry, which was published by The Prang Educational Company in Boston, New York and Chicago in 1888.

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Reference to the same technique also appears:

in 'The Prang Primary Course in Art Education: Part 2: The Second Primary Year' by Mary Dana Hicks and Josephine C Locke, which was published by The Prang Educational Company in Boston in 1893.

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In 'Teacher's Manual for The Prang Complete Course in Form Study and Drawing Books VII and VIII' by John S Clark, Mary Dana Hicks and Walter S Perry, which was published by The Prang Educational Company in Boston, New York and Chicago in 1895.

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1893

'The Prang Primary Course in Art Education: Part 2: The Second Primary Year' by Mary Dana Hicks and Josephine C Locke, which was published by The Prang Educational Company in Boston in 1893, contains a method of cutting a Trefoil from square paper.

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1894

Various articles by Jean Marteau in issues of 'Manuel General de L'Instruction Primaire', published during February and March 1895 are devoted to symmetrical fold and cut designs of increasing complexity.

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1897

Various designs of increasing complexity appear in 'Pliage et Decoupage du Papier' by C Savineau, which was published by Librairie Hatchette et Cie in Paris in 1897.

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Fold and Cut Paper Snowflakes - 1936 onwards

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