Russia leather hide

DateCa. 1786

MediumReindeer or bovine animal hide

DimensionsOW: 50 " OL: 80"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1992-39

DescriptionRussia leather hide. Whole flattened hide of reindeer or bovine animal, treated and cured as "Russia leather" with slightly red color and cross hatching characteristic texture.
Label Text"Russia Leather," willow-bark tanned hides treated with birch oil, was exported from Russia to other European countries in the 17th and 18th centuries. Prized for the flexibility, durability, and waterproofing the birch oil provided, along with the reddish color and cross-hatched textured surface, Russia leather a was more expensive choice than locally tanned leather. Late 17th and ealry 18th century British and some American chairs were often upholstered in Russia leather. This hide was archeologically excavated in the late 20th century from a shipwreck of the Danish brigantine "Die Fraumetta Catharina von Flensburg". The ship sank in 1786 off Plymouth Sound (off the southwest coast of England) on its voyage from St. Petersburg, Russia.
ProvenanceRussia (Archaeologically excavated from a location off Plymouth Sound, where the Danish brigantine Die Fraumetta Catharina von Flensburg, coming from St. Petersburg, went down in 1786.)

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