15708
Accession Number
10644
Title Of Article Chaper
Properties and preservation of ethnographical semi-tanned leather
Title Of Journal Book
Studies in conservation
Volume
19
Issue
2
Pages
66-75
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
French;German;Italian;Spanish
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
In contrast to fully tanned leather, that used by the Canadian Indians and Eskimos has poor durability. When stored under less than ideal conditions it becomes stiff and brittle, and restoration of such artifacts presents problems. The methods used for sound leather, such as fat liquoring or staking, cannot be used once the skin has deteriorated. A method used successfully is described. It consists of soaking the artifactin water to gain pliability and then replacing the water with organic liquid in order to avoid shrinkage on drying. Flexibility is preserved by permeation with an emulsion containing a stabilized olein soap, neat's-foot oil and ethyl alcohol. Gut-skin may be treated by a modification of this emulsion. Fur poses a lesser problem because the skin is thin and can easily be permeated with an aqueous emulsion of sulfited sperm oil. Several examples of restoration are given.
Keywords
Leather, impregnation consolidation; bibliography, leather; costume, conservation; synthetic-resin, polyethylene; leather, manufacture; cross-section, leather; leather, dressing; leather, conservation; ICCROM
pub_id
15708