Suminagashi is the ancient Japanese technique of decorating paper with inks. It is believed that the oldest form of marbling was practised in Japan by Shinto priests as early as the 12th century. Suminagashi literally means “ink floating”.
The marbling unit in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry started as a hobby in 1965. Some sadhaks experimented with this art form and offered marbled handmade paper to the Mother. Later they extended the marbling process to silk. As it was widely appreciated, the Mother permitted the sale of these products. From 1970 onwards, the unit took up work on a big scale with the production of saris, scarves, stoles, ties, kerchiefs, dress material and dupattas on pure silk and pure silk chiffon, for sale locally and abroad. Today marbling has developed into a fine art form to which the Marbling Group has undoubtedly the credit of having added certain refinements, apart from having been among the first to adopt the process successfully to silk fabrics.
