Papier-maché

(pāp'e-a-mash-a'.) [Fr., chewed paper.] (Manuf.) A manufacture made of cuttings of white or brown paper, boiled in water, and beaten until they are reduced to a pulp, and then boiled in a solution of gum-arabic, or of size, to give consistency to the pulp, which is afterwards formed into different shapes, by pre ing it into oiled moulds. When dry, it is coated with a mixture of size and lamp-black, and afterwards varnished. P.-M. is rendered, to a great extent, waterproof by mixing sulphate of iron, lime, glue, or white of egg, with the pulp; and almost fire-proof, by borax and phosphate of soda. P.-M. is extensively used for making tea-trays, snuff-boxes, and many other light and elegant articles, as well as a variety of toys, moulds of stereotype plates, . [s. 682] IMG:plate0727.jpg:Gravür