Parchment is an exotic material usually made from calfskin, sheep skin or goat skin, used since the 2nd century B.C. Traditionally, parchment was used as a writing material for manuscripts before paper was invented. Later, it became a popular material for covering pieces of art and furniture amongst Art Deco designers, especially Jean Michel Frank, who often used it in his work. It remains a unique hide which lends a nod to deco vocabulary in modern designs.