Scribal Techniques

Egg Tempera Homepage. This website is devoted exclusively to the Egg Tempera painting medium.It provides information and inspiration to those who are learning the technique or who are curious about it.

How To Cut a Bamboo Pen. Online demonstration on how to cut a reed pen. Very informative with clear instructions and graphics.

How to Cut a Quill Pen. Great for those who need a refresher course or those who have no idea how to turn a feather into a writing instrument.

Anglo-Saxon Manuscript Production. Step by step details of how an early period manuscript was prepared.

Medieval Ink Recipes. One recipe taken from the twelfth century manual 'On Divers Arts' by Theophilus plus several others

Period Inks This is a really nice page. It has instructions for making several different kinds of inks ... carbon black - oak gall - and invisible.

Thompson Conservation Laboratory This page has links to several period techniques used in bookbinding.

Gilding: The Application of Gold Leaf Page all about using gold leaf. Includes a recipe for gesso and a troubleshooting guide.

Tooling or Embossing on Raised Gilding A little about the method and materials.

Girdle Books A PARMA (Pacific Assocation for Recreating the Middle Ages) page showing the re-creation of an early 14th century girdle calendar. Lots of good information.

Making and Using Wax Tablets A fantastic page on the history of wax tablets ... as well as step by step instructions on how to make them yourself.

Making a Period Style Gesso Detailed instructions on how to make a period style, but non-toxic gesso from easily obtained materials. This page also includes directions for making hide glue and slaked plaster.