Pattern Library

Over the course of hundreds of years, a wide range of influences from many cultures and countries has resulted in broad spectrum of marbling patterns.

Some replicating natural stone, others utilizing the technology at the time to generate linear or repeating forms. They can all be tailored into an almost infinite number of unique compositions by changing colours, the order of application, and the tine spacing of combs.

Each of the examples shown below is a piece that we have created at Moorland Marbling.

  • Stone

    Elegant in its simplicy, the stone pattern is the basis of all other marbling patterns.

    Traditionally it is created with natural colour palettes to mimic stones such as marble, but as shown in these two examples, it's so much fun to use bold colours instead!

  • Bullseyes

    Using a dropper, concentric rings of colour can be created. These can be a standalone pattern and are also an interesting technique to apply to over marbling.

  • Free Form

    Using a stylus or other simple hand tools, the paint is manipulated at random to create a swirled effect, much like eddies on a stream.

  • Gel-Git

    This pattern is made with parallel strokes in opposite directions, creating a zig zag effect. The name "Gel Git" is a Turkish phrase meaning "come and go", similar to the English "back and forth".

  • Nonpareil

    Formed using a comb, parallel lines are drawn through the paint creating arches of colour. The spacing of the tines greatly impacts the pattern, with some being only a few millimetres wide. Additionally curves can be added as shown in the second example.

  • Chevron or Reverse Combed

    This pattern takes the nonpareil and splits each line with a comb drawn in the opposite direction. This can be challenging, especially with fine tine spacing.

  • French Curl

    A series of parallel curls, usually created over a stone or nonpareil pattern.
    Visually striking and makes for beautiful book endpapers.

  • Antique Spot

    Applying a series of very fine spots in contrasting colours adds another layer of depth to a design.

    This can be tricky to get right, as the spots like to spread and can ruin the underlying pattern.

  • American

    Using combs perpendicular to one another, a detailed shell-like pattern can be created. As shown in the second example, careful consideration of how the prior gel-git base is formed greatly impacts the final pattern.

  • Palm

    A delicate yet bold pattern resembling palm trees or perhaps the top of a pineapple!

  • Cockerell

    Reminiscent of feathers, this beautiful pattern was invented by a prestigious British marbling company called Cockerell & Sons. Unfortunately they have now ceased operations.

  • Bird Wing

    A delicate pattern resembling the feathers and shape of a birds wing. Complicated and difficult to execute due to the high risk of imperfections presenting in the fine lines.

  • Peacock

    This deceptively simple repeating pattern creates a shape similar to the tail of its namesake.

  • Bouquet

    Perhaps the most famous marbling pattern. Intricate and beautiful, it will be unsurprising to learn that it is also one of the most difficult to make.

  • Thistle

    A variation of the Peacock pattern. Less common but equally challenging to make.

  • Cathedral

    The addition of raked parallel lines overtop an existing design creates apertures evoking cathedral windows. The examples shown are based on the "American" pattern.

  • Italian Vein

    A variation of the Stone pattern whereby the colours are forced into very tight veins.

  • Ripple

    The addition of a wave overtop a free form or gel-git pattern creates movement across the page.

  • Spanish

    The addition of a wave overtop a stone or nonpareil pattern.

  • Moire

    A mesmerizing three-dimensional illusion creating a draped fabric effect. This is an extremely difficult pattern to make.

  • Overmarbling

    Papers can be re-marbled to enhance the first pattern and create complex layered designs. The first example shows a free form swirl overtop peacock. The second is a nonpareil over a veined stone pattern.

  • Overmarbling

    Further examples. The first is bouquet over multicoloured stone. The second shows bullseyes over bouquet. The possibilites are endless.