Home > Book Reviews > Complete Origami
Complete Origami
By Eric Kenneway
Published: 1987 by St. Martin's Press
Pages: 192
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 0312008988
Buy from: Amazon.com
| Skill Level : | From simple to complex |
|---|---|
| Clear diagrams? | Yes - hand drawn. Can be concise in the more complex models. |
| Tinted diagrams (to show 2 sides of paper)? | No |
| Photos of completed models? | Only for some of the models |
| Is there indication to the model size resulting from size of starting paper? | No |
| Are the models "Pure" origami (From square - no cuts)? | Not all of them |
Overall Impression
This is not your traditional origami book, this book is not about the diagrams, although it does contain many
of them; rather, it's about the rich history and diversity of origami, discussing, in an encyclopedic way, the
many facets of the art.
The book opens with an introduction to origami symbols and maneuvers, and then dives into alphabetical entries
for all things origami. The entries are illustrated by pictures, drawings and diagrams for mostly traditional
models, but also more modern gems such as Max Hulme's magnificent Jack-in-the-box, and E.D Sullivan's
Bluebeard's castle. Also included are some more obscure ways of folding, with even hats, turbans and
nappy-folding instructions!
This is a fun book if you're interested in some of the history and stories behind origami, or if you just want
to fold something.
The Models
| Model | Creator | Notes | Photo (click for a larger image) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coiled spring | Traditional | A curled strip of paper | |
| Flapping bird |
Japanese |
||
| Tipper | Takekawa Seiryo | A nice action model that tips-over by itself | |
| Airplane | American | Toy plane. From a rectangle | |
| Dart | American | Toy plane. From a rectangle | |
| Banger | Japanese | From a rectangle | |
| Double-barreled banger | Japanese | ||
| Boat | Japanese | ||
| Booklet | Japanese | From a rectangle. With a cut | |
| Jack in the box | Max Hulme | From a rectangle. Excellent. Also published in The Best of Annual Collections 1981-1995 |
 Folded by Gabriel Vong |
| Fluttering butterfly | ? | Spins in the air | |
| Decorative Butterfly | Dokuohtei Nakano | From a rectangle. Nice | |
| Christmas Tree | American | Folded from the pages of a catalog | |
| Bell | Bob Allen | Folded from the pages of a catalog | |
| Funerary offering | Chinese | From a rectangle | |
| Celebratory offering | Chinese | From a rectangle | |
| Chinese junk | Chinese | Very nice | |
| Paper fastener | John Cunliffe | ||
| Paper fastener | Martin Wall | ||
| Dish | Yoshihide Momotani | Nice | |
| Cup | Japanese | ||
| Simple letter fold | ? | From a rectangle | |
| Envelope | John Cunliffe | From a rectangle | |
| Candle | Jean Claude Correia | Very nice | |
| Fan | Japanese | From a rectangle | |
| Hexaflexagon | Arthur Stone | From a rectangle | |
| Ring flexagon | Eric Kenneway | From a rectangle | |
| Iris | Japanese | ||
| Flower | David Collier | Nice | |
| Leaf & stem | David Collier | From rectangles | |
| Foil box | Japanese | From a rectangle | |
| Frog | Japanese | The traditional inflatable frog | |
| Jumping Frog | Chinese | ||
| Jumping Frog | American | ||
| Banana | ? | From a handkerchief | |
| Bow | ? | From a handkerchief | |
| Mouse | ? | From a handkerchief | |
| Hat | Japanese | From a rectangle | |
| Boat | Japanese | From a rectangle | |
| Turban | ? | From a scarf | |
| Hood | ? | From a scarf | |
| Antelope | Alice Blumberg | With cuts | |
| Spider | Bob Allen | With cuts | |
| Peruvian kite | Olivero Olivieri | Simple | |
| Knots | ? | ||
| Carp | Japanese | ||
| Kusudama | Japanese | From 36 squares. With stringing instructions | |
| Lampshades | ? | Crease-patterns for creating decorative lampshades from rectangles | |
| Loin cloth | Chinese | From a scarf | |
| Map fold | ? | From a rectangle. Nice | |
| Sunburst | David Collier | From 8 squares | |
| Dodecahedron | David Brill | From 12 rectangles | |
| Portrait ring | Max Hulme | From a currency note. Very nice | |
| Borgia ring | Kenneth Kawamura | From a currency note. Very nice | |
| Bluebeard's Castle | E. D. Sullivan | Multi-piece, with instructions for turrets and roofs. Excellent. |
 Folded by Eliot Phillips |
| Mitre | ? | From a napkin | |
| Fan | ? | From a napkin | |
| Buffet server | ? | From a napkin | |
| Nappy | Dr. Spock | ||
| Slippers | ? | From newspapers. Nice | |
| Cushion covers | Japanese | ||
| Flapping bird | Ricky W.K. Wong | From a rectangle - a very simple a-fold model | |
| Squeaker | Japanese | From a rectangle - a very simple a-fold model | |
| Pajarita | Spanish | ||
| Seagull and surf | Bob Allen | From a rectangle - 2-dimensional pictorial origami | |
| Frame | Larry Hart | From a rectangle. Very nice | |
| Talking fox | Julien Correia | A very simple puppet | |
| Camera | Traditional | A simple action toy | |
| Crawling beetle | Traditional | With cuts. A nice action toy based on friction | |
| Boy wearing a newspaper hat | Eric Kenneway | Nice | |
| Swan | John Smith | "Pureland". Nice | |
| Cluster puzzle | Peter Ford | From 6 rectangles. Excellent | |
| Salt cellar | Japanese | ||
| Fortune teller | Japanese | A.K.A Cootie catcher | |
| Crane | Japanese |
|
|
| Joint cranes | Japanese | Some examples of the art of Sembazuru - folding multiple cranes from one sheet | |
| Scottie | Giles Gautherin | Simple | |
| Scottie - black & white | Giles Gautherin | A Sembazuru-like variation | |
| Tumbler | Takekawa Seiryo | Very nice | |
| Five pointed star | ? | ||
| Stretched Star | Japanese | ||
| Chrysanthemum | Yoshihide Momotani | From strips of paper | |
| Tato | Japanese | ||
| Palm tree | Didier Boursin | From 11 Paris Metro tickets | |
| Rose | Megumi Biddle | Folded by twirling tissue-paper | |
| Star of David | ? | From a triangle | |
| Troublewit | American | From a rectangle. A versatile action model, with manipulation examples | |
| 6-sided box | Fujimoto Shuzo | From a rectangle. Excellent | |
| Japanese Umbrella | Toshie Takahama | A working umbrella from 2 squares. With cuts | |
| Heart | Makoto Yamaguchi | 3-dimensional | |
| Waterbomb | Japanese | ||
| Wrapping | ? | Gift-wrapping methods | |
| Yakko San | Japanese |
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