© Ruth Isser
As part of the KO “Schrift und Schreiben im Mittelalter” (Writing and Writing in the Middle Ages) with Ruth Isser, the students not only gained an insight into the education system of the Middle Ages, the diversity of the profession of scribes and the connections between materiality and writing, but they were also allowed to pick up a pen themselves.
Following calligraphic exercises, authentic materials such as parchment and laid paper were written on with home-brewed iron gall ink and carefully carved goose quills.
The fun factor probably outweighed the frustration of the unexpectedly demanding craft and increased the respect for medieval manuscripts and the achievements of contemporary scribes.