Important Notes

• Participants will work in pairs, sharing two frames (one goat skin, one sheep skin)

• Basic manual skills are essential — be prepared for a smelly, damp, and slippery environment, especially on Day 1

• Required personal equipment: Appropriate work clothes, rubber boots, gloves, and safety goggles (plan luggage accordingly)

• Some disposable protective equipment (plastic aprons, gloves, safety goggles) will be available for loan

• All hides come from animals slaughtered and skinned in the slaughterhouse under hygiene standards; hides have been pre-soaked in lime solution (1–2 weeks prior) by colleagues in Malta

Agenda

Sunday 26th April | Welcome Reception

19:00 | Welcome Reception in Valletta

• Meet fellow participants and workshop leaders

• Location and exact time to be confirmed closer to the event

Day 1: Monday 27th April | Dehairing & First Cleaning

Focus: Introduction to the craft and first hands-on processing of raw hides

09:00–09:30 | Introduction & Health and Safety

• Welcome and overview of the parchment-making process

• Health and safety briefing for the slaughterhouse workshop environment

• Distribution of protective equipment

09:30–~14:00 | Dehairing and First Cleaning of All Skins

• Practical demonstration of dehairing techniques on limed hides

• Hands-on removal of hair, fat, and meat residue from goat and sheep skins

• Paired work on frames; guidance on tool handling and skin manipulation

Short break for refreshments mid-morning

~14:00 | Day 1 Concludes

Note: This is the most physically demanding and odorous day. Ensure you have appropriate protective clothing and footwear.

Day 2: Tuesday 28th April | Goat Skins — Cleaning & Stretching

Focus: Final processing and framing of goat skins

09:00–~14:00 | Final Cleaning and Stretching of Goat Skins

• Final cleaning of goat hides: removing remaining tissue and membrane

• Stretching goat skins onto frames

• Techniques for even tension and frame management

• Monitoring drying progress and adjusting as needed

Short break for refreshments mid-morning

~14:00 | Day 2 Concludes

Day 3: Wednesday 29th April | Sheep Skins — Cleaning & Stretching + Evening Seminar

Focus: Processing sheep skins and academic programme

09:00–~14:00 | Final Cleaning and Stretching of Sheep Skins

• Final cleaning of sheep hides: removing remaining tissue and membrane

• Stretching sheep skins onto frames

• Comparison of goat vs. sheep skin handling and behaviour

• Monitoring drying of goat skins from Day 2

Short break for refreshments mid-morning

~14:00 | Practical Session Concludes

18:00 onwards | Evening Seminar — Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta

• Academic seminar programme (detailed programme to be circulated closer to the date)

• All invited speakers have confirmed attendance

• Location: Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta

Day 4: Thursday 30th April | Surface Treatment & Finishing

Focus: Completing the parchment and closing the workshop

09:00–~14:00 | Surface Treatment and Finishing Steps

• Surface treatment techniques: two different methods applied to each participant's parchment

• Finishing and quality assessment of completed parchment

• Comparison of goat and sheep parchment properties

• Preparing parchment for transport home

Short break for refreshments mid-morning

~13:30–14:00 | Closing Remarks

• Reflections on the process and outcomes

• Discussion of observations and lessons learned

• Distribution of completed parchment (half sheep + half goat per participant)

• Group photo

~14:00 | Workshop Concludes

Workshop Organisers

Jiří Vnoucek (CODICUM) and Chanelle Mifsud Briffa (NAF)

Chanelle Mifsud Briffa — Head of Conservation & Research, M.A. (Sussex.) Notarial Archives Foundation 217, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1217, Malta chanelle.mifsudbriffa@nafmalta.org | +356 2122 6152