Papermaking was invented in China, probably some 2,000 years ago. Early paper decoration techniques were also developed in both China and Japan. The marbling technique was known in these two countries as early as the 12th century AD. During the 16th century, it was popular in Persia and Turkey, and from there, knowledge of marbling spread to Western Europe. In the 17th to 19th centuries, there was substantial marbled paper production in Germany, France, Italy, Holland and England.

For paper marbling, a large receptacle is filled with a gelatinous substance, and drops of watercolour dye are floated on top. The colour is then spread with a brush, comb or other tool to produce the desired effect. A sheet of paper is then placed on the floating dye, leaving a mirror image of the design on the paper. Common styles include comb marbling, ‘French curl’ marbling and stone marbling; examples of these and other styles can all be found in Marbled Paper Design.