Leather Research
Leather is frequently encountered in cultural artifacts, and conservators are working to increase their understanding of the material, its aging properties, and preservation options. This page is intended to collect and summarize research of interest to conservators on leather. If the work is published, citations are available in the Bibliography. We also welcome descriptions of ongoing research projects.
Other related pages in the AIC Wiki include BPG Animal Skin and Leather in the BPG Wiki, which describes the chemistry of skin and its tannage, Leather and Skin in the OSG Wiki, and a page on Stabilizing Wet Skin and Leather during emergency response, and BPG Use of Leather in Book Conservation in the BPG Wiki.
Wiki Compilers: Katherine Wagner and Kristi Wright
Wiki Contributors: Firstname Lastname, your name could be here
Copyright 2021. The Book and Paper Group Wiki is a publication of the Book and Paper Group of the American Institute for Conservation. It is published as a convenience for the members of the Book and Paper Group. Publication does not endorse nor recommend any treatments, methods, or techniques described herein. Please follow these instructions for citing the BPG Wiki, keeping in mind that the Wiki is a work in progress and is frequently updated. The BPG Wiki coordinators can be reached at [email protected].
Contents
Past Research Initiatives
19th century leather research
Athenaeum Club, London
Sulfur in Gas Theory
- Date: 1842
- Participants: Michael Faraday, William T. Brande, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Brown, Dr. Prout
- Premise: Widespread decay in leather bookbindings was noted. In some libraries, bindings would deteriorate in just 2-3 years. Circulating books would not deteriorate as much as companion volumes left on the shelves.
- Sulfur In Gas Theory: The Sulfur in Gas theory focused on the assertion that gas lighting raised the sulfur content of interior air in libraries. The theory postulated that moisture containing sulfuric acid was condensing on books, especially in the upper levels of the stacks, and depositing sulfuric acid on the bindings. As the acid accumulated it accelerated decay. Faraday attempted to solve the problem at the Athenaeum Club by collecting the gas lighting’s combustion products in glass cylinders and carrying them away in connected tubes so that the sulfuric acid would not enter the room.
- Impact: The theory was corroborated by similar observations from multiple libraries across the country and alternatives to gas lighting were explored.
Manchester
Conference of Librarians in London
Birmingham Library
20th century leather research
Society of Arts on Leather for Bookbinding
Sound Leather Committee
British Leather Manufacturers Research Association (BLMRA)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
FAIR
STEP
ENVIRONMENT
21st century leather research
CRAFT
Ongoing Research Initiatives
Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (ICLT)
- Formation:
- The Institute for Creative Leather Technologies is based at the University of Northampton in Northhampton, UK.
- Summary
- The Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (ICLT) is a research and education center. Their research responds to the scientific and technological needs of the automotive, fashion, footwear and allied leather industries. The ICLT works in partnership with external organizations such as the Leathersellers' Company, the National Leather Collection, and the Leather Conservation Centre
- Publications
- The ICLT maintains a research page containing ways to access their publications.
Leather Discussion Group
- Formation:
- The Leather Discussion Group was formed in 2016 by four book conservators:
- Holly Herro, Senior Conservator, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine
- William Minter, Senior Book Conservator, The Pennsylvania State University Libraries
- Katie Wagner, Senior Book Conservator, Smithsonian Libraries
- Kristi Wright, Contract Book Conservator, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine
- Holly Herro, Senior Conservator, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine
- Summary
- The Leather Discussion Group aims to acquire a better understanding of leather and the leather dyes traditionally used in conservation. The initial goals were to determine the best products available to meet the needs of conservation, to make those needs more apparent to leather manufacturers, and to identify effective methods to evaluate a skin’s quality and longevity. Since that time regular, leather-focused, meetings have furthered these goals.
- Ongoing conversations with and survey results from leather chemists, tanners, and conservators in multiple disciplines continues to provide valuable feedback. The group gave a panel presentation at AIC’s 2018 pre-conference symposium entitled “The Current Use of Leather in Conservation” covering changes to the tanning process, previous leather research, and the group’s current activities and goals.
- Research topics include:
- The beginning of the leather process – the quality of the raw skin - with an exploration of changes in North American animal husbandry from the colonial era to the modern day.
- The influence of bookbinders' and conservators' choices when selecting and using leather
- Research topics include:
- Survey
- Do you have an interest in leather usage and longevity? Please contribute to the Leather Discussion Group's conversation by participating in this Leather Survey!
- Publications
- Changes in North American Animal Husbandry from the 17th Century to the Present Poster presented at both the 2019 AIC Annual Meeting in Uncasville, CT and the 2019 ICOM-CC Interim Meeting of the Leather & Related Materials Working Group in Paris, France.
Quality Tests for Leather
Printing Industries Research Association (PIRA) Test
The PIRA test was developed to ...
Shrinkage Temperature Test
The Shrinkage Temperataure Test was developed by...
Bibliography
Please follow the BPG Reference and Bibliography Protocols.
Here are templates for book and article citations.
- Lastname, Firstname. Year. Book Title in Italics. Location: Publisher.
- Lastname, Firstname. Year. "Article Title in Quotations." Journal Title in Italics (volume). page number range.
- If you link to an online version, embed the link in the article title, include a DOI if available, and the date you accessed the online version. Omit the page number range.
And examples:
- Clapp, Anne F. 1979. Curatorial Care of Works of Art on Paper. Oberlin, OH: Intermuseum Conservation Laboratory.
- Horton, Richard 2000. “Glossary of Terms Relating to Photo Albums” in Conservation of Scrapbooks and Albums: Postprints of the Book and Paper Group/Photographic Materials Group Joint Session at the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. 21-28. AIC, Washington, DC.
- Ogden, Sherelyn. 1991. “Preservation Options for Scrapbook and Album Formats.” Book and Paper Group Annual 10. Accessed October 9, 2014.
History of This Page
This page was created in 2019 within the BPG Wiki, but the compilers intend for it to become a more general topic page across specialty groups.
Paper Conservation Wiki | |
---|---|
Examination and Documentation |
·Glossary of Terms ·Fiber Identification ·Written Documentation ·Visual Examination ·Watermarks ·Spot Tests |
Materials | |
Problems and Issues | |
Conservation Treatment |
·Surface Cleaning ·Hinge, Tape, and Adhesive Removal ·Washing ·Sizing and Resizing ·Bleaching ·Alkalization and Neutralization ·Humidification ·Consolidation, Fixing, and Facing ·Backing Removal ·Mending ·Filling of Losses ·Drying and Flattening ·Lining ·Inpainting ·Matting and Framing ·Parchment ·East Asian Scrolls |
Book Conservation Wiki | |
---|---|
Examination and Documentation | |
Structural Elements of the Book |
·Endpapers ·Endbands ·Sewing and Leaf Attachment ·Book Boards ·Board Attachment ·Book Decoration ·Fastenings and Furniture |
Book Materials |
·Animal Skin and Leather ·Parchment Bookbinding ·Cloth Bookbinding ·Paper Bookbinding |
Conservation Treatment |
·Washing of Books
·Alkalinization of Books
·Leaf Attachment and Sewing Repair
·Board Reattachment
·Use of Leather in Book Conservation
·Scrapbooks
·Circulating Collections
·Case Binding
·Non-Western Bookbinding Structures and Their Conservation |