A study by Jiří Vnouček in the Journal of Paper Conservation reveals that the 13th-century Hamburg Bible's parchment holds significant insights into medieval craftsmanship and animal anatomy. By analyzing the calfskin pages, Vnouček uncovers traces of the animal's anatomy such as neck, spine, and shoulder blades, as well as the workshop techniques used. The manuscript not only showcases intricate illustrations but also retains physical details, highlighting the transformation of skin into writing material, making it an artifact of medieval craft and material culture.
A round, white, more transparent spot on the spine (close to the blue initial) is an offprint of the second vertebrae of the thorax.
Vnouček demonstrates how each page preserves physical traces of its animal origins and the workshop techniques used to transform skin into writing material.
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