Construction and Crafting
The majority of 'renaissance' leather manufacturers rely on clicker machines to punch out hundreds of mass-produced
cookie-cutter parts. They are assembled using rivets, or are machine-stitched on an assembly line. Rivets are a quick and
easy method of construction that reduce the construction time and increases the maker's profit. This method concentrates stress
at the rivet points and causes premature weakening of the leather which leads to tearing. Machine stitching, likewise, is
a modern technique used in order to decrease manufacturing time and increase profit. A machine-sewn seam is a lockstitch that
is easily broken. Once broken, the threads quickly unravel and the leather item begins to come apart.
Our designs are hand-drafted for the individual customer. All pieces are hand-cut, hand-tooled, and
hand-stitched in the same manner, and with the same techniques, that traditional European craftworkers have used for centuries.
Our seams are hand-sewn using harness stitch. This is the same method used in the crafting of quality saddlery and horse
tack.
|
 |
Types of leather used
Here at Wolfshead Leather we primarily utilize several types of leather. These types may firstly be distinguished
from each other by the method they were tanned with. We use both 'oak' leathers and 'chrome' leathers. Oak leathers are
tanned in vats of vegetable based tannic acids. These are the leathers that we use in our hand-tooling process. Chrome leathers
are a much more common type of leather that is tanned with chromium salts. This is the type of leather that we use for
the bodies of many of our bags and purses.
Both of these types of leather may be further distinguished by the animal that the skins originally came from.
Thus there are oak hides of cow, pig, and other animals, and there are chrome hides from all of the same animals. Many of
our products use a mix of these various types of leather.
Historic Medieval Pieces
Although we use many varieties of leathers in our pieces, it is possible to order our historical pieces
in oak leathers only. This most closely approximates the vegetable-tanned leathers that would have been available during the
middle ages.
|
|
|
|
Colors
Our products are available in a wide range of colors. Black is always available, as are many shades of brown.
It is possible to request other colors, also. When in doubt, email us and we will be happy to discuss color options!
Chrome Leather
Our chrome leathers come pre-dyed from the tanneries. Black and browns are always available, and we try to keep
as many other basic colors in stock also.
Oak Leather
Our tooled oak leathers are dyed to color-match as closely as possible to our chrome leathers, or they are contrast-dyed
for a balanced appearance.
Medieval Colors
Our historic recreations are dyed to replicate medieval dyes as closely as possible. This includes black, browns,
red, green, and blue. Yellow is also a possible color for SCA and other peerage belts. We base these colors on period documents,
such as the Maciejowski Bible, and Gaston Phoebus' 'Livre de Chasse'. All of our period pieces are
always available in a natural oiled finish, also.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
