Paper obtained in antiquity from the skin of various animals, generally calves, goats and sheep. The procedure for its production foresees the immersion of the skin in lime and then drying the skin in traction on a stretcher. At the end of the process, the skin is thinned by scraping it with the use of knives. Even if tied to a long and complex process, sheep parchment was utilized for a long time even after the discovery of carta bambagina, known as being little adapt for drawing and for works of major importance. |
note: Pergamena, voce in Cecilia Prosperi, Il restauro dei documenti di archivio. Dizionarietto dei termini, Roma, Ministero per i Beni e le Attivitą Culturali, 1999. |