Overview
This lecture explains the creation of medieval parchment manuscripts, detailing the preparation of animal skins, the work of scribes and illuminators, and the bookbinding process.
Parchment Making Process
- Parchment was made from sheep, goat, or calf skins.
- Skins were soaked in limewater for 3–10 days to loosen hair.
- Hair and flesh were scraped off, then skins were soaked in fresh water to remove lime.
- Skins were stretched on frames and scraped to the desired thickness while drying.
- Finished parchment could last over a thousand years.
Preparing Parchment for Writing
- Parchment surface was rubbed with pumice powder and coated with sticky powder to take ink.
- Sheets were cut to size depending on the manuscript, with larger books using nearly whole skins.
- Sheets were folded and nested into gatherings of 16–20 pages.
Scribe’s Role and Materials
- Scribes used quill pens made from bird feathers, hardened by soaking and heating.
- Quills were shaped based on the lettering style required.
- Black ink was often made from gallnuts or lamp black (carbon-based pigment).
- Pages were ruled with a straightedge before writing for uniformity.
- Errors were removed by scraping with a pen knife, as parchment tolerated repeated erasures.
Illuminator’s Role and Techniques
- Illuminators decorated pages after the scribe finished the text.
- Designs were sketched, detailed, and gold leaf was applied using a sticky base like gesso or gum.
- Gold leaf was attached by moisture and polished after excess was removed.
- Paints were made from vegetable dyes or mineral substances, with lighter colors applied before dark.
- Final details included black outlines and white highlights.
Bookbinding Process
- Gatherings were sewn using linen thread onto leather thongs or supports.
- End bands secured the top and bottom of the spine.
- Leather thongs were threaded through wooden boards (the covers), fixed with pegs or nails.
- The book was covered in leather and sometimes fastened with clasps or straps to keep pages flat.
- Bindings could be simply covered or elaborately decorated, depending on patron wealth and intended use.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Parchment — writing material made from treated animal skin.
- Gathering — group of folded parchment sheets forming part of a book.
- Quill — writing pen made from a bird feather.
- Gallnut — oak tree growth used to make ink.
- Lamp black — black pigment from burnt carbon.
- Illuminator — artist who decorates manuscript pages.
- Gesso — plaster-like base for gold leaf.
- End bands — threads securing the ends of the book spine.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the parchment-making and manuscript processes.
- Study terms and definitions for upcoming quiz.
- Prepare for a discussion on manuscript preservation in the next class.