Leather Craft History in the US

[yaklady]

I was asked to teach some kids a bit about the history of leather craft. That's hard to do when I don't know much about it. There has got to be a few people on this forum who know plenty. What can you share with the children?

Thank you!

Kathy

[King's X]

Send me an email, I have about 30 books, I am sure I can send you some history. I hope it is now like yesterday that you have to teach this class.

KingsXAustin(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Greetings from Round Rock, Texas

~ Remember: Stop & Strop! ~

[rdb]

pg 424

http://books.google.com/books?id=DcbvQ0WTx...TYPES#PPA424,M1

an interesting story of the early leather mfg...especially around my hometown areas, when shoes were king.

[Johanna]

From 711 to 1492 AD, Islamic Northern Africans, now known as Moors, conquered and occupied the Iberian Peninsula in various degrees, defeating the Christian kings of Spain and Portugal. The intricate floral designs we see today of scrolls and swirls stems from Muslim customs involving the depiction of animals and people. The Moors' leatherworking techniques were incorporated into the Spanish culture, and later carried to the New World via Mexico and Latin American exploration and conquest. Modern western floral carving is the result of many different cultures and their interpretations of ancient work.

Johanna

[Colman]

Kathy,

Here is a good link

http://www.all-about-leather.co.uk/history.htm

[yaklady]

Thank you guys, and gal, for helping me out with this! I knew this was the place to get what I needed. The class isn't till July, so I have plenty of time to gather, and the kids are quite young, so I need to keep it simple. I could give them the complete history of my yak hide, but I don't think they want to hear that!

Kathy

[ChuckBurrows]

For the history of early eastern US leather work (stylistically different than the Spanish influnced work here in the west) contact Jay Howlett at Colonial Williamsburg - he's a great guy and I'm sure could offer some info. Anotehr gent to contact that may be of help is Steve Lalioff - he has a website.

While the Moors and later Spaniards had an effect on all of western European leather work, Northern European work has it's own separate background - the books by John Waterer on the history of leather work are also a good resource if one can find them - interlibrary loan is your best bet on them.