parchment
Ancient scroll material
Parchment is animal skin—typically sheep, goat, or calf—prepared as a writing surface.
Before paper became common, manuscripts and official documents were written on parchment.
The material is durable and takes ink well.
Modern parchment paper is a treated paper used in baking, designed to be heat-resistant and nonstick: Line the pan with parchment.
Wound document of parchment
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- folioSingle-fold page format
- quireTwenty-four sheets
- palimpsestReused writing surface, traces remain
illuminated · scriptorium · monastic · scribe · copyist · transcription · binding · paleography
Prepared calfskin for writing
- calfskinYoung cattle hide leather
- lambskinYoung ovine hide
- kidskinLeather from juvenile goats
- goatskinTanned caprine hide
sheepskin · membrane · animal skin · hide · rawhide · untanned · prepared · stretched
Feather used for writing
- inkWriting fluid
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- scriptWritten words for performance
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
inscription · lettering · nib · inkwell · sepia · handwriting · flourish · minuscule
Judaism's core scripture
- megillahElaborate, exhaustive narrative
- mezuzahCased scripture on doorframe
- tefillinJewish prayer boxes worn daily
- sutraEastern religious discourse
manuscript · scripture · liturgical · sacred · monastic · ecclesiastical · altar · devotional
Rich milk fat
- ivoryTusk-derived material
- eggshellBrittle ovum casing
- ecruPale grayish-yellow brown
- buffAvid fan; also burnish
off-white · beige · tan · yellowed · aged · warm · muted · antique
Founding organizational document
- deedWritten property conveyance
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- certificateFormal written attestation
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
edict · patent · license · indenture · will · testament · commission · warrant
scroll
Wound document of parchment
palimpsest · illuminated · scriptorium · monastic · scribe · copyist · transcription · binding · paleography · incunabula
vellum
Prepared calfskin for writing
goatskin · sheepskin · membrane · animal skin · hide · rawhide · untanned · prepared · stretched · scraped
quill
Feather used for writing
- inkWriting fluid
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- scriptWritten words for performance
penmanship · inscription · lettering · nib · inkwell · sepia · handwriting · flourish · minuscule · uncial
Torah
Judaism's core scripture
- megillahElaborate, exhaustive narrative
- mezuzahCased scripture on doorframe
- tefillinJewish prayer boxes worn daily
sutra · manuscript · scripture · liturgical · sacred · monastic · ecclesiastical · altar · devotional · psalter
cream
Rich milk fat
buff · off-white · beige · tan · yellowed · aged · warm · muted · antique · faded
charter
Founding organizational document
- deedWritten property conveyance
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- certificateFormal written attestation
decree · edict · patent · license · indenture · will · testament · commission · warrant · proclamation
illumination
Provision of light
- gildingApplying decorative gold coating
- gold leafUltra-thin decorative metal
- miniatureReduced-scale representation
ornament · border · decorated · pigment · vermilion · ultramarine · burnished · tooled · embossed · filigree
paper
Pressed pulp for writing
oven · sheet · cooking · wrap · greaseproof · disposable · roll · precut · kitchen · culinary
- classical authors manuscriptsilluminated texts, vellum, scriptorium, codex, ancient texts
- Magna CartaKing John, Runnymede, charter, royal seal, barons
- medieval studiesmedieval studies, trivium, Middle English, medieval universities, Anglo-Saxon
- illuminated manuscriptsilluminated manuscripts, illuminated manuscript, illuminated letters, illumination, illuminations
- medieval manuscriptsilluminated manuscript, book of hours, codices, illuminated pages, psalter
- book partspage, pages, cover, index, chapter
parchmentdigital screen
Electronic visual output surface
tablet screen · LCD display · stone tablet · papyrus · clay tablet
- parchment paperNonstick cooking surface liner
- baking parchmentNonstick oven sheet
- parchment scrollRolled writing surface, historical