Difference between revisions of "Parchment"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
A thin writing or drawing sheet prepared from the skin of a sheep or goat. Parchment was used as early as 2nd century BCE in Rome and the Near East. The skin is dehaired with lime then scraped, rubbed, and polished with abrasives ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=pumice pumice]) and fillers ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=chalk chalk] or [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=talc talc]) on one side to provide a smooth writing surface. Thin translucent sheets of parchment made from stillborn or newly born calves or lambs are called [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=vellum vellum]. They are used for documents, fine books, drum heads, and lamp shades. The term parchment is sometimes applied to modern paper (wood pulp) products with that are finished to imitate the appearance of vellum or parchment (see [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=vegetable%20parchment vegetable parchment]).
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A thin writing or drawing sheet prepared from the skin of a sheep or goat. Parchment was used as early as 2nd century BCE in Rome and the Near East. The skin is dehaired with lime then scraped, rubbed, and polished with abrasives ([[pumice]]) and fillers ([[chalk]] or [[talc]]) on one side to provide a smooth writing surface. Thin translucent sheets of parchment made from stillborn or newly born calves or lambs are called [[vellum]]. They are used for documents, fine books, drum heads, and lamp shades. The term parchment is sometimes applied to modern paper (wood pulp) products with that are finished to imitate the appearance of vellum or parchment (see [[vegetable parchment]]).
  
 
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== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  

Revision as of 06:46, 1 July 2014

1979.495-SC68947.jpg

Description

A thin writing or drawing sheet prepared from the skin of a sheep or goat. Parchment was used as early as 2nd century BCE in Rome and the Near East. The skin is dehaired with lime then scraped, rubbed, and polished with abrasives (Pumice) and fillers (Chalk or Talc) on one side to provide a smooth writing surface. Thin translucent sheets of parchment made from stillborn or newly born calves or lambs are called Vellum. They are used for documents, fine books, drum heads, and lamp shades. The term parchment is sometimes applied to modern paper (wood pulp) products with that are finished to imitate the appearance of vellum or parchment (see Vegetable parchment).

22.376-E3569CR-d1.jpg

Synonyms and Related Terms

parchemin (Fr.); pergaminho (Port.); drumhead leather

Hazards and Safety

Adversely affected by moisture and high humidities.

Susceptible to biodeterioration.

Additional Information

° R.Reed, Ancient Skins, Parchments and Leathers Seminar Press, London & New York, 1972 ° P. R³ck (ed), Pergament, Geschichte-Strucktur-Restaurierung-Herstellung, Sigmaringen, Jan Thorbecke Verlag, 1991. (German)

Authority

  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
  • Silvie Turner, Which Paper?, Design Press, New York, 1991
  • Tom Rowland, Noel Riley, A-Z Guide to Cleaning, Conserving and Repairing Antiques, Constable and Co., Ltd., London, 1981

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