Pergamano Parchment Craft is a new and popular craft rooted in an art form that dates back nearly two thousand years. Today’s parchment craft projects are delicately beautiful lace designs created using a combination of techniques including embossing, stippling, perforating, cutting, and coloring.

According to historians, the Turks of Bergama, Turkey, invented parchment around AD 500 (Bergama is Latin for Pergamon). The Turks developed parchment as a substitute for papyrus. Due to the ongoing wars, they were unable to import the ingredients needed to make papyrus, a type of paper made from the stems of a plant called sedge. Instead, they created early parchment versions from the skin of a goat or sheep.

Although at first, people used parchment primarily as a surface on which to write, the craft of parchment appeared in Europe in the 15th or 16th century. At the time, parchment craft involved creating lace-like designs on sheets of paper. In those early days of parchment craft, most designs were religious in nature and had significant Catholic overtones. Over time, these traditional techniques evolved into new approaches and new techniques.

The craft of parchment did not spread rapidly during the 15th century, as many forms of card making became mechanized after the invention of the printing press in 1445. However, the craft of parchment experienced a renaissance during the 18th century. At this time, handwork became more intricate and decorative, with the introduction of wavy edges and perforations.

With the advent of French Romanticism in the 19th century, parchment artisans began to incorporate floral themes, cherubs, and portraits. They also added embossing as a technique, resulting in attractive embossed effects with white or gray undertones.

During the 16th century, the parchment craft appeared mainly in Europe. However, at the beginning of the 16th century, European missionaries from monasteries and convents introduced the craft to South American countries, where it flourished among the artisans of religious communities. For example, South American girls receiving their First Communion often received parchment craft items as gifts.

Later, in Columbia, cottage industries sprang up as people began selling handmade greeting cards and invitations on parchment. One such talented Colombian woman, Martha Ospina, moved to the Netherlands in 1986. In 1987, Martha and her partner Tiemen Venema began displaying their intricate cards at events such as flower arranging workshops. The interest grew.

In 1988, Martha created the renowned Pergamano brand, in an effort to make tools and supplies available throughout the world. Today, Pergamao International owns the brand and continues to produce and distribute these products, which now include parchment paper, tools, paints and other dyes, inks, brushes, pens, books, magazines, and DVDs. The Pergamano design group (consisting of Martha and three other artisans) continues to create new designs.

Martha also founded the International Academy of Parchment Crafts, an institution that educates people to become registered Parchment masters.

Made from cellulose or cotton fibers, today’s parchment paper is translucent with a smooth surface and a light gray color. Parchment is also available in various colors and textures.

Although initially parchment was primarily used in the creation of greeting cards, it has many other applications. Today’s artisans make beautiful bookmarks, scrapbook embellishments, gift boxes, gift tags, flowers, lampshades, fans, and other decorations.

parchment scroll craft It is popular mainly in South America and Europe. However, it is also becoming increasingly popular in North America. As paper crafters discover this graceful and beautiful art, many are eager to add it to their repertoire.