Introducing Pergamena
Posted by Sarah @ PIA on Sep 25th 2024
With a history dating back to 1550 in Germany, Pergamena is a family-owned tannery now based in New York’s Hudson River Valley. Led by Jesse Meyer, the company honors its centuries-old leather and parchment traditions while embracing sustainable innovations. Using animal hides that are byproducts of the food industry, Pergamena minimizes waste and chemical intervention, producing high-quality parchment and leather free of heavy metals.
Their commitment to reducing water usage and environmental impact ensures that every product reflects both craftsmanship and eco-consciousness. Parchment 101: We’re here to help you choose which parchment is best for your project! Why Goat?
Goat parchment is sturdier, making it ideal for applications requiring durability, such as bookbinding, and large format printing. Features a prominent grain and wide range of colors. Get Started: This starter pack from Pergamena is perfect for calligraphers, bookbinders, painters, or any creative ready to dive in.
Each kit includes: 4 unprepared 5” x 7” sheets, 2.5 oz of scraps, and access to Pergamena's educational resources. Why Calf? Calfskin or vellum is thin and smooth with minimal visual interference, making it ideal for calligraphy and illustrations that require a clean, paper-like surface. C
particularly favored for their classic appeal. Why Character? Character parchment pieces feature a wide variety of grain, color, and texture from piece to piece. From spots to
ream and white are
hair follicles to holes and bacteria discolorations, each is distinct. Character parchment is like a co-collaborator with your artwork. Perfect for calligraphy, bookbinding, botanical illustrations, or block prints.
To Prep or Not to Prep: Preparing parchment is pretty straightforward—it’s all about sanding the surface so it’s ready to absorb pigment or media. Furniture designers and bookbinders prefer unprepared because it
adds strength, and some watercolor artists prefer unprepared texture for soaking up their paints. Why Classic? Classic parchment pieces feature as little visual interference as possible, as well a
lighter, more traditional colors such as white, cream, and beige. Great for text. Beautiful and Bespoke: Introducing some truly unique parchment offerings. Cut + Dyed: This dyed goatskin
parchment from Pergamena comes prepared and ready for you to start creating. Each piece features a stunning, one-of-a-kind color profile, and is available cut and in full skins. Full Skins: This
4-pack of full goatskin parchment from Pergamena comes unprepared and ready for you to start experimenting. All skins feature a wide range of grain, color, and texture, and each pack features roughly 16 total square footage of goatskin surface to work with. Tie-Dyed: For something truly special, try our tie-dyed parchment! Prepped and ready to go, this gorgeous green and cream goatskin is available in very limited quantities, so grab it while you still can. Want to Learn More? Click the button below to check out our Paper & Ink Arts x Pergamena YouTube Playlist, which features interviews with Liv from Pergamena, a look at our in-store sanding session, and answers to all your parchment and vellum queries. Watch Now.