This 5-day workshop was given by Jiri Vnouček and his son in Oxford, England. Jiri first discussed the characteristics of vellum and then showed us how to de-hair and pin out a skin of vellum. The skins were from a variety of animals and circumstances of death; some were from the slaughter house, some from local culling. They had already been selected and soaked by staff at the Bodleian Library. We then set the depillated and pinned-out skins outside. Using chalk and curved tools we scraped off the remaining unevenness on both sides. It was interesting to see the natural holes that occurred. Some of these flaws were from bullets and some because the animal had been scratched by barbed wire.
Vellum Making Workshop given by Jiri Vnouček and his son in Oxford, England