marbling
OAB Definition
process of transferring pigments from an aqueous surface to another support, commonly paper.
The earliest verifiable marbling occurred in Japan in the 12th century CE, but may have been in practice as early as the 10th century. The technique, known as Suminagashi, involved floating ink on water. Another technique called abrī in Persian countries and ebrû in Turkey, floated pigments and dyes on a mucilaginous solution made from various plants. Often the support was treated with a mordant. This technique was developed in the greater Iran area and central Asia. It may have developed independently or evolved from Suminagashi. This technique eventually spread to Europe.