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A Fine Scrape

amazing

© CNRS Photothèque

 

Despite its appearance, this image comes not from the plant world but from the animal realm. In this sample, it's the white shapes that provide a clue to the material and its history. Are there many? How big are they? From their density and distribution, one can deduce the nature, and therefore provenance, of the 17th century parchment under examination. Sheepskin was most widely used in France, while calfskin and goatskin were used in Northern and Southern Europe respectively. The animal skin was not tanned as in leather processing, but stretched and scraped to prepare it for writing. And if not scraped down too much, spaces were left empty by hair follicles: These appear as white shapes under the microscope. The green elements are dyed collagen fibers which provide the skin's supporting structure. This specific sample appears to be sheepskin, indicated by the number of follicles and the alternation of small and large ones (a dozen and sixty or so microns across, respectively). Useful information for historians and restorers who work at the Research Center for the Conservation of Graphic Documents,1 primarily dealing with books and photographs.

 

Magali Sarazin

Notes :

1. Centre de recherches sur la conservation des documents graphiques (CNRS / Ministry of Culture and Communication / French National Museum of Natural History joint lab).

Contacts :

Centre de recherches sur la conservation des documents graphiques, Paris.
crcdg@mnhn.fr
www.crcdg.culture.fr

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