How are parchment and leather used?
The first parchments were simply unrefined animal skins. But over time, parchment production practices became increasingly refined until parchment became a legitimate writing surface. By the 15th century, parchment had eclipsed papyrus as the more stable, available, and preferred writing material. After the invention of the printing press and before the wide adoption of paper, parchment was also seen as the preferred material for use in printing — a prime example of this is the Gutenberg Bible. The material’s durability also led to its widespread use in bookbinding. And this is just the beginning. Parchment is also used for drumheads, in harpsichords, and as hinge material in some instruments. In the last century and a half, parchment usage has expanded to include applications such as furniture paneling and interior wall paneling. Leather tanning was first conceived as a way to preserve animal skins from rotting and disintegrating. The skins could then be used for writing surfaces, clo
