![]() ![]() Leather will not tear, and is resistant to heat and sun damage. It outlasts fabric covering, has an exceptionally long, useful life, and ages well. Leather has properties that make it superior to other upholstery materials. Then, as today, cattle hides were the major leather source because of their availability, strength, and hide size. Oxhide and calfskin were a favorite in the late Louis XIV styles and fine goat leather was often used by Chippendale and subsequent designers. ![]() The tanning process took almost a year and was completed by coating the hides with oil and grease, then scraping and treading on them. In the 18th century, the art of preserving hides and tanning them into leather had become an old, respected trade. Throughout this period, all types of furniture were covered with leather and studded with decorative nail-head patterns. Spanish craftsmen disseminated techniques for embossing, tooling, painting, and gilding leather in the 16th and 17th centuries. ![]() The entire earlier Renaissance styles, particularly the Spanish and English favored leather upholstery. It has been a prized commodity throughout history. Like stone, wood, and wool, leather is a natural product. There is always a trade-off between price and quality. These suppliers may use less expensive leathers, or mix and match leather and man made materials on individual pieces. Leather is now gathered, pleated, and draped in much the same way as fabric covers.Īt the same time, manufacturers have found ways to make leather upholstered pieces available at lower price points. The way leather is applied to frames has also changed. Not only has the styling of upholstered pieces changed, the leather used to cover contemporary pieces, now comes in a wide variety of designer colors and is generally soft, pliable, and comfortable. Today, due to advances in tanning technology and style innovations, sales of furniture upholstered with leather covers has grown at tremendous pace.Ĭontemporary styled leather upholstery has emerged as a strong selling category with broad consumer appeal. Massive, traditional chesterfields, tufted wing chairs, traditional saddle-arm and double bustle pub sofas characterized leather upholstered furniture styles. These leathers generally have heavily glazed, shiny finished. Heavy, traditional styles and the use of strong colors such as burgundy, oxblood, burnt orange, rust, walnut, tortoise, navy, and blackberry characterized the category. Fine leather upholstery used to be found in the dens and living rooms of only the very wealthy. ![]()
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