Leather may be analysed for its chemical composition according to several standardised procedures. Each of these tests requires substantial amounts of leather. Even when each test would be carried out on one tenth of the prescribed amount, then still several grams would be needed to perform the most essential analyses. In order to reduce the total amount required and to make the analytical method applicable to precious leather objects, a scheme of well defined consecutive analytical steps was put forward. The order of the different steps was chosen in such a way that the mutual influences were minimal. The following data could be obtained on a total amount of leather, down to 200 mg: volatile matter, shrinkage temperature, pH, pH1/10 and dpH, sulphate- nitrate- chloride- and phosphate-anions, tannins (eventually including dyes), fates, minerals. Results of these measurements should give enough information in most cases to evaluate the condition of a leather object and to decide whether or not to perform a conservation treatment.