Vellum / Goat Skin (Parchment)

Vellum tiles, also referred to here as parchment tiles, use a material usually made from goat and calf skin, with a history of more than 1,500 years in maps, manuscripts, bookbinding and writing surfaces. Unlike tanned leather, parchment is prepared by cleaning, stretching, scraping and drying skin under tension, producing a smooth, translucent material whose markings and tonal variation remain visible. No two skins are exactly alike.

Working and colouring vellum is demanding because the prepared skin can be dry and drum-like before it is mounted or finished. That natural character is part of its appeal: clouding, veining, follicle marks and tonal shifts give the surface depth without relying on an applied pattern.

Vellum Tiles in Twentieth-Century Design

In the 1920s, designers including Jean-Michel Frank, Jacques Adnet and Paul Dupré-Lafon brought parchment into modern furniture and interiors, combining it with oak, bronze and other rare materials. De Ferranti's Jean-Michel Frank and the Art of Rare Surfaces explores this material-led approach in greater depth. Aldo Tura later became known for richly coloured goatskin and parchment furniture in Italy.

The relationship between parchment, shagreen and fish skins and mica surfaces is especially useful when building schemes around texture, translucency and controlled reflection rather than overt ornament.

Specifying Parchment Surfaces

Vellum tiles should be reviewed as natural skin surfaces, not as uniform paper, paint or laminate. Samples are important for judging colour, sheen, markings and the way light moves across the material. For dry, conditioned interiors, the project team should confirm backing, substrate, seams, edge treatment and installation details for the selected product. De Ferranti's range moves from pale calfskin parchment through honey, oxblood and smoked umber finishes, allowing the same material language to shift from quiet ivory to deep patina.

Project Guidance and Enquiries

For project guidance, availability, pricing, samples or further information, please contact us. Your enquiry will come directly to De Ferranti, and we will be pleased to discuss suitability, quantities, lead times and options for your project.