How Modern Morocco Is Made

Morocco is also a popular leather, largely imitated by the printing process on cattle hides, for the real morocco is- made of goat skins, which are not large enough for many uses. This type of leather was also developed in Spain, mainly by the Moors, who occupied Southern Spain at the time. From them the art spread over Northern Africa and thence to Turkey and other Mediterranean countries. It is now largely made in England, the process requiring much hand manipulation and careful attention to detail. American manufacturers do not appear willing to expend the necessary time to produce the better grades. The first point of difference is in the tanning material used, the powdered leaf of a species of sumach which grows naturally about the Mediterranean. The finest sumach comes from Sicily, where it has long been cultivated and is a leading export. Goat skins, tanned with this material, are nearly white, and unaffected by light. This is a valuable property where light shades are desired in the finished skin. The real morocco is also colored by natural vegetable dyes, such as are used in the best grades of Oriental rugs and with the same happy result. The best imitation of morocco is made of sheep skins tanned and finished by the same process. The skins are similar in size, and when finished can only be distinguished by the expert. The test of time, however, reveals the deception, for sheep skin has a peculiar loose or spongy fiber which does not wear well. The goat is a hardier and tougher animal in all respects, and his hide partakes of his nature. The sheep moroccos are available for book-binding and for small, fancy leather goods where they are not subject to strain. Real morocco is very tough and hard wearing.

Cordovan And Russian Leather

There are numerous other varieties of leather which occasionally come to the notice of upholsterers, but usually in the printed imitations rather than the real thing. Among these may be noticed Cordovan, which is of the same gen eral type as Spanish leather, as the name would imply. It is heavy leather, hut soft and fine grained, the grain being natural and not produced by boarding.

It is the chief variety of leather used in the Oricnt. and is often dyed in brilliant reds and yellows.

Russia leather is chiefly used for book-binding, its leading characteristic being a peculiar odor developed by the use of the bark of a species of birch in tanning. Other barks are also used, in which case the es-sential oil of birch is rubbed into the hide in finishing. It was first developed by the nomadic tribes inhabiting the steppes of Russia. A curious feature of the finishing process was that of sewing two hide-together face to face, forming a sack which was filled with the dyeing solution and left until the desired color was obtained. This leather is also produced by modern methods, the oil of birch being rubbed into the flesh side of the hide to give the typical odor.

Shagreen is a species of morocco leather with a peculiar rough grain. This is produced while the skins are damp, the seeds of a native Oriental plant being stamped into the surface and then brushed away, leaving a curious granulated finish. Real shagreen is too hard and stiff for upholstery work in general."