Practical Understanding: Guide participants through the core stages of traditional parchment production, from raw hide to finished writing support
Material Awareness: Develop hands-on familiarity with the physical and chemical transformations involved in parchment making
Cross-disciplinary Dialogue: Bring together conservators, scientists, and historical researchers to deepen understanding of parchment as both a craft product and an analytical subject
Shared Experience: Each participant produces and takes home parchment from goat and sheep skin, treated with two different surface methods
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
The workshop will take place in a dedicated area within the slaughterhouse complex in Marsa, Malta, separate from the meat processing facilities, specifically designated for parchment production.
The Wednesday evening seminar will be held at the Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta.
Malta International Airport (MLA) is the sole airport, with regular connections to major European hubs. From the airport, Valletta is approximately 20 minutes by taxi or bus.
Participants will meet daily at 08:30 at a designated meeting point in Valletta and/or Floriana (exact location to be communicated closer to the date). Transport to the Marsa workshop site will be arranged from there.
Participants are strongly advised to seek accommodation in Valletta or the neighbouring town of Floriana for convenient access to the daily meeting point.
Arrival: Sunday 26th April (morning recommended, to attend the welcome reception)
Departure: Thursday 30th April (afternoon) or Friday 1st May (note: 1 May is a public holiday in Malta)
Meet fellow participants and workshop leaders
Location and exact time to be confirmed closer to the event
Focus: Introduction to the craft and first hands-on processing of raw hides
Welcome and overview of the parchment-making process
Health and safety briefing for the slaughterhouse workshop environment
Distribution of protective equipment
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.
Focus: Final processing and framing 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
Focus: Processing sheep skins and academic programme
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
Academic seminar programme (detailed programme to be circulated closer to the date)
All invited speakers have confirmed attendance
Location: Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta
Focus: Completing the parchment and closing the workshop
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
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
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