Leather Mache

[zuludog]

Just seen something I'd never heard of till now. I've been watching a TV programme about Hampton Court Palace, to the south west of London

It was started by Cardinal Wolsey, but when he fell out of favour it was taken over by Henry VIII

Part of the ceiling decorations were made out of leather mache, which is similar to papier mache. Seems logical enough; I've Surfed the Net, but I can't find out much about it

[DoubleC]

I've done papier mache before and I don't see why it wouldn't work. I used a paper hredder to get enough paper. Sure would take some time to skive that much leather

[cem]

Here's a thread that might help http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19302&hl

Peter Main I believe still does his scalpel handles with leather mache I can't remember if it was a book,the PSLAC Rawhide Gazette or a post here where he explained how to do it but from what I can remember the small scraps were mixed with wood glue, formed around the handle while wet and sanded down after it had set. For early stuff like the Hampton Court I would expect they would of used hide glue mostly likely rendered from hares/rabbits.

[leatherwytch]

I have done leather sculptures with a substance called Paverpol. You can use any natural substance material like cotton, silk, leather to do these and also pictures out of it. It is very similar to what one would call leather mache. it is messy and if you get it on your clothes and they are natural it is not coming off. It makes the statue eco friendly and they can survive outside in any kind of weather.