Talk:Vellum

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Wouldn't it make sense to merge Vellum and Vellum parchment? Is there any reason for a disambiguation page, given that the two meanings listed are closely related? Wmahan 03:43, 2 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I agree. I've merged them. DopefishJustin (・∀・) 00:04, Apr 27, 2005 (UTC)

There is a problem with this article. Vellum is a bit more complicated. Parchment is not vellum ... at times pieces of parchment would be sewn onto vellum for illustrative purposes, or maybe to cover a hole in the vellum produced by the stretching process (at times the scribe would even write around the wholes). This needs more work and as such should not be listed.

Contents

[edit] from the latin

the page for parchment says that vellum is derived from the latin for "calf," but here it gives the derivation from the latin for "pelt."

Velius is Latin for pelt, but my (offline) etymological resources (primarily Chambers Dictionary of Etymology) state that Vellum derives from Middle French velin, from Old French vel or veel, for calf. In English, it first appears in print as velym about 1430, thence to velum by 1499, and finally to vellum in 1636. The Online Etymological Dictionary agrees with the link to velin, though it indicates that velin is Old French, not Middle French.
And my copy of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary agrees with Middle French Velin, so I am changing the article. --Intelligence3 03:51, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Origins

The first paragraph states that vellum was originally made from pig skin. The second paragraph states that it was originally made from calf skin. Obviously these are at odds. I have had difficulty locating an online source for either. Despite etymological roots that may tie to calf, obviously it could have been originally made from swine before calves became more common for the purpose, the name perhaps having come later.

it's hard to imagine there were enough calves around to supply the medieval demand - I think sheep & doubtless pigs also got involved. I think early Irish vellum (Book of Kells etc was from lambs, although i don't think the article says so Johnbod 04:06, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Torah scrolls

The article states without reference that vellum made from unborn calf skin is "still the preferred type for Torah scrolls today." I'm not Jewish, nor do I have any knowledge of Kosher law, but it struck me as a possible misconception. I've found no sources to back up the claim; rather, most sources seem only to indicate which part of the calf's skin is preferable. Can anyone confirm or deny? --Dmagus 17:47, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

I saw a rabbi explaining this on TV recently. Why a possible misconception? Johnbod 18:11, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

    • I'm actually updating the article on scrolls, and so will sync it with this article. This article is wrong in the sense that klaf (Hebrew) was the original use of velum or parchment for writing, and any kosher animal's skin can be used, but obviously must be thin enough to enable the scroll to be rolled. The preferred skin is that of deer, and for this reason those made in Iraq were highly prized in the ancient and medieval times right up to the 18th century, often imported into Europe, particularly Germany.--Mrg3105 08:34, 18 August 2007 (UTC)


[edit] "additional step"

The sentence "Large paper drawings require an additional step (tracing paper amenable to letting light pass through it, and hence is more error prone)" appears to be an unfinished thought. It is unclear what additional step the author was referring to, and what the connection between light passing through and errors is. Lriley47 (talk) 17:00, 28 May 2008 (UTC)