Fwd: An inquiry regarding vellum...

[ewilkie@ix.netcom.com (Everett Wilkie )]

This was sent to me privately but it seems like a decent question for 
the list members. --ECW


---- Begin Forwarded Message

I hope you will not mind this inquiry and I sincerely hope that you
might have the time/inclination to assist me in finding information on
the production of animal vellum as used in medeival manuscripts.

By hobby, I am a calligrapher and illuminator and am fascinated by
medieval books, particularly the Lindesfarne Gospels.  My goal is to
eventually produce a page, in the style of the Lindesfarne Gospels, on
vellum.  Unfortunately, I can find very little information on how 
vellum was produced at that time (or any time in the middle ages for 
that matter).  Although I have some meager information on stretching 
and finishing the vellum, I can find nothing regarding the initial
preparation of the hide.


Irene Christiansen-Ten-Hove
535 - 10th Ave. NE
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 0X7
(403) 277-0740



-- 
                     Everett C. Wilkie, Jr.
	       Head Librarian and Crofut Curator of
		    Rare Books & Manuscripts
		The Connecticut Historical Society
	      1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105
         Phone: 860-236-5621, ext. 250  Fax: 860-236-2664
		   Cell/car phone: 860-402-2126
		   Email: ewilkie@ix.netcom.com
       "Chickens basically have two purposes in this world--
	           to lay eggs and to be fried"
				    --Lewis Grizzard