The conference was hosted by the Museo della Carta e Filligrana. This museum is housed in a former monastery, and provides an extensive history and continuing development of papermaking in Italy. For over a decade, the Museo della Carta e Filligrana and the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking have been “sister” museums, visiting, sharing ideas and research, and encouraging cross-cultural experiences. Fabriano was the first place in Italy to make paper, and thirteenth-century papermakers there are credited with several innovations in papermaking. One of them was the chiaroscuro watermark, or “light and shade” mark. Many beautiful examples are on view in the museum.

One of the highlights of the conference was the gala dinner held on the final night at the Marchese del Grillo. In addition to a large contingency from across the United States, there were paper makers from the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Peru, Spain, Germany, and of course Italy. Many people at the Congress were familiar with the work of the Williams museum, and had visited in the past.

At the end of the Congress, Juan participated in the post-congress tour, a four-day bus journey around the Marche, visiting numerous hand paper mills and printing studios and a Venetian mask-maker’s workshop.

Participation in the Congress provided Juan and Virginia with opportunities to meet many well-known people in the hand papermaking community. Additionally, both returned with numerous ideas for programs, exhibits, and other ways in which the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking can further develop relationships with others interested in hand papermaking.

Participation in the Congress provided Juan and Virginia with opportunities to meet many well-known people in the hand papermaking community. Additionally, both returned with numerous ideas for programs, exhibits, and other ways in which the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking can further develop relationships with others interested in hand papermaking.