Leatherworking

The Archaeological Leather Group promotes the study of leather and leather objects from archaeological and other contexts. Members come from a variety of disciplines and include archaeologists, historians, scientists, scholars, conservators, artefact specialists and leather workers. The Group aims to provide a focus for the investigation of leather, bringing together a broad range of knowledge and experience both practical and academic. Information which adds to understanding of leather is explored, including its manufacture, function, context, processing, recording, conservation, care and curation.

This archer&#39 ;s bracer is made of cuir bouilli (boiled leather). Bracers were worn on the forearm to protect the it from the bowstring, and to keep any loose sleeve material out of the path of the string. Bracers are fastened around the forearm by a buckle at the end of Y-shaped leather straps rivetted to the bracer.

Mostly secular examples in bone & ivory, enamel, leather, metal, and wood.

Slides, spreadshee t, and Pinterest board on the constructi on of leather doublets and jerkins. These leather garments were treated just as if they were from any other cloth: could be decorated or not, assembled with regular sewing-typ e seams, etc. Research includes 81 extant doublets and jerkins between 1540-1650.

This comprehens ive report represents a landmark in the publicatio n of medieval finds from excavation s in York. It encompasse s very large assemblage s of medieval artefacts of a wide variety of materials, including iron, non-ferrou s metal, stone, jet, amber, fired clay, glass and textile. These were recovered from four major sites in York.

An outline & bibliography from a class on the typical methods of leatherworking ornamentation from the 11th-14th centuries.

Most of the time, folks don't have easy access to period style hardware. Some of us use leather "hardware," such as hinges and hasps, on some of our wood working projects.

The original proposal for the research and publicatio n of the large assemblage of leather artefacts and leatherwor king evidence from four sites in Anglo-Scan dinavian and medieval York specified that the work be undertaken in two distinct stages:


Stage 1: completion of the archive and preparatio n of a detailed publicatio n synopsis.


Stage 2: analysis, research and publicatio n.

The initial data gathering and quantifica tion has been successful ly completed and this document represents the detailed publicatio n synopsis, work programme and timetable necessary for the completion of stage 2.

A bibliograp hy of sources on several leatherwor king-relat ed subjects compiled from the catalogue of the specialist library collection at the Walsall Leather Museum.

Includes sections on finds from excavations; leathergoods manufacture; knife sheaths; shoes; parchment; books, boxes, & book boxes; and saddlery.

This site is divided into two areas: What we know was actually done in the Middle Ages, and 20th Century leatherworking done by Reenactors and Recreationists.

A blog post with photos of leather items found on the Mary Rose (which sank in 1545), including bracers, a mitten, an arrow-spac er, leather bottles and buckets, shoes and boots, scabbards, and pouches.

On the history of the shoemakers and bootmakers of France.

Boxes and coffers, demonstrating a variety of different leatherworking techniques, from the 14th-16th centuries.

Links to images of 14th-17th century hard leather cases, made to protect a wide variety of objects, including crowns, astronomy equipment, and goblets.

The purpose of this group is to share and further the knowledge of those persons interested in the study of Medieval leather and leatherwork. We are interested in discussing accurate, historic: useage, methods of production, construction, decoration, etc.. All topics are open as long as they are prior to the end of the Renaissance period (circa 1600 A.D. or so). Discussions of leather prior to the Medieval period are also acceptable, for example, The Ice Man and his leather ensemble or Roman caligae.

Leather cases, often cylindrica l, used to contain pens and other writing tools. These are sometimes depicted as worn on a belt, though sometimes they appear on a desk or hung on the wall. Includes 14th-16th century depictions , and a few extant examples.

An outline of leatherworking techniques used before the 17th century: tooling, painting & dyeing, tools, and styles.

The characteristics of leather were just as important then as they are today: flexibility, strength and durability.

A chronologically-arranged list of texts from the fourth to the 20th centuries relating to shoemaking and leatherworking.

In the predominan tly agrarian economy of sixteenth- and seventeent h-century England, the most important industries were associated with agricultur e. Contempora ries usually took the leather industry for granted, with the result that historians have largely ignored it. Yet there are grounds for regarding this industry as second or third only to the manufactur e of woolen cloth as an industrial occupation .

A series of articles on medieval leather artifacts, and how to make related items.