Leather Clossary

Natural Leather that has been finished using aniline, a colourless oily liquid. In modern terms aniline refers to leather has the colour added in the dye drum and has no pigmented surface coating

A method of aging a leathers appearance through the use of contrasting colour and the surface pattern of hollows, markings, and creases an antique leather is fashioned

The main portion of a hide, obtained by cutting off the two bellies

Chrome tanned hide or skin which has been split into two or more layers

Relating or belonging to the genus of ruminant animals that includes cattle, oxen, and buffalo

Leather that has the grain side lightly buffed to produce a velvet like finish

Leather from which the top surface of the grain has been removed by an abrasive or bladed cylinder

The mechanical process which removes scars and scratches from hides

The part of the hide after the bellies and shoulders have been removed

The under layers, split from the butt of a cattle hide

The outer covering of a fully grown bovine animal

Soft pliable leather used for cleaning and polishing made from sheep or lambskin that has been tanned using oxidised fish or marine animal oils

Leather tanned using chromium salts as the base tannage

The use of two or more tanning agents; chrome followed by vegetable (chrome re-tan), vegetable followed by chrome (semi-chrome), formaldehyde followed by oil (combination oil)

Leather that has been partially buffed then embossed to remove minor imperfections in the grain surface, the leather then receives a pigments coating

Leather which has been tanned but not finished or "in the crust."

Leather usually vegetable tanned, which has been subjected to the currying process, i.e. a series of dressing and finishing processes applied to leather after tanning in the course of which appropriate amounts of oils and greases are incorporated in the leather to give it increased tensile strength, flexibility and water-resisting properties

The thick sensitive layer of skin or connective tissue beneath the epidermis that contains blood, lymph vessels, sweat glands, and nerve endings

A worn wrinkled look made by the application of wax before being tumbled, the tumbling causes a break in the wax were the leather flexes

Commonly suede splits cut out of the centre cut

Full dye penetration is achieved when the hides immersed in dye and tumbled in a vat (drum)

A raised leather print or pattern used in corrected grain upholstery or fashion leathers to create certain looks

Anatomy the thin outermost layer of the skin, itself made up of several layers, that covers and protects the underlying dermis

Used in the retan process to add to the handle (softness) of the hide

Wrinkles in the leather caused by the animals natural fat deposits

The Surface coating applied to the leather

Process used after tanning of the hide to create different effects such as embossing, pigmenting, lacquering, glazing, waxing, antiquing

See buffing

Leather tanned solely in chrominium salts

Leather with the original grain intact, these hides are used for high grade Natural upholstery leathers

Leather which has a very bright or glossy appearance

Leather tanned with glutaraldehyde, usually in combination with other tanning agents, to make the leather more resistant to deterioration under moist conditions

What is termed the grain of a leather is the patterns formed by the skins pores and growth marks

Leather with the original grain intact, these hides are used for high grade Natural upholstery leathers

The outer (wool or hair) layer of a hide or skin that has been split into two or more layers

The term used to describe the feel of leather

Hide or skin which still retains its original fibrous structure more or less intact, and which has been treated so as to be imputrescible even after exposure to water. The hair or wool may or may not have been removed

Leather split before it has been tanned

Upholstery that is fashioned out of leather in the seating area and is matched with vinyl for the remainder

Leather with a metallic sheen through the use of powders or metallic foils

To ensure softness after the hides are tanned and finished they are tumbled for several hours

Leather which has been tanned with mineral salts such as aluminium, chromium or zirconium salts

Vegetable tanned goat skin with a hard grain pattern

A soft full grain leather usually tanned with aluminium and chromium salts

Cow hide buffed to give a velvety nap effect

A light weight unbleached bark tanned leather pit tanned at a low temperature for between three to six months

Translucent skin dried, cleansed and degreased without any tannage suitable for writing and bookbinding

Leather impregnated with plastic to make a smooth firm layer

The shine that develops on leather with time and use

A leather finish with a pearl like lustre

A surface finish containing fine suspended pigment particles

Leather which has been dyed then treated with a pigmented top layer and clear top coat

A pattern embossed onto the surface of leather

Leather which has had chemicals added to protect against soiling

A waxy soft leather which has oils/wax applied. Any scratches or marks will stay until they are rubbed away

A translucent hide which has been treated to preserve it prior to tanning

Leather which has had an additional tannage

Leather which has no further process after tanning except being dried out

Unfinished vegetable tanned cow hide which has been dressed ready for carving, finishing and dying. Sometimes called skirt leather.

A process creating a marbled appearance to leather

Leather with a light pigment finish giving a more transparent effect than fully pigmented

Leather hides that have been dyed using aniline to completely permeate the hide with a colour. There is either a transparent coating or slightly coloured finish applied to semi aniline dyed leathers to increase its resistance to wear, soil and light. Semi aniline dyed leather has nearly the softness of full aniline leather, with enhanced resistance to wear, soil and light.

Specially tanned to shrink the grain layer so as to have a surface of uneven folds and valleys

Leather made from the outer covering of an animal with or without hair

Tanned outer or grain split

Leather which has had the top surface removed through a process of abrasion

A single layer from a hide or skin

Leather which surface has been milled only

Process used to preserve hides to create a chrome or veg tannage

Layer of final coating to create levels of colour, gloss to desired level

The finished layer of the hide

Milling of the leather to create desired effects

Leather produced for the upper part of footwear

Leather tanned with vegetable tanning agents

A synthetic material made to look like leather

Chrome tanned leather which has not been further processed and sold in the wet condition