100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#76

….beneath the surface…

Vellum from the  Latin “vitulinum” meaning ‘made from calf.’  It is a translucent material produced from the hide of a young animal; used in the production of books and scrolls.
First it is washed with water, then with lime and soaked for a few days to soften and remove the hair. The skin has two distinct sides; the inside layer is lighter and delicate.  The outer layer may still have hair follicles and some scarring. There is a membrane that shows the pattern of the animals vein network which is rubbed, so that just beneath the surface the ink will adhere well.

Book of hours written on Vellum early 15th Century