Leather through the Ages. 
The weaving of cloth, the spinning of thread and the milling of flour were all started before men could keep any record of their deeds. This is true also of the use of skins and leather. It is certain that, before people had learnt to to spin thread or weave cloth, the skins of animals they killed for food were the natural covering not only for their feet but also for their bodies.
 At first they would wear the skins in their raw state without preserving them, but gradually some simple method of preserving them would be discovered. Probably the earliest leathers were tanned with the fat and brains of the animals from which they came, and even today certain leathers are made by similar methods. If you research a subject it is only natural to go back in history as far as possible. In the case of leather- animal hides- that means going back to the beginnings.  In Genesis, the Bible says, "And God said, `Let the earth bring forth every kind of animal-cattle and reptiles and wildlife of every kind."And so it was."
Again in Genesis 3:21, "and the Lord God clothed Adam and his wife with garments made from skins of animals."
More evidence of the use of hides, this time only 400,000 years ago, is detailed in the Time-Life book series, The Emergence of Man - The First Men.
The wandering Tribes of ancient times used leather for shoes, clothes, beds and carpets; armour, water bags and ornaments; parts of tools and weapons; boats and their sails and drums.
 Leather is unique as one of, if not, the oldest and widest occurring natural commodities in the world.
It is used in furniture, cars ,books,clothing, footwear and personal accessories to name just a few applications.
Leather also has an emotive appeal. We all have a wallet, belt, purse or handbag so prized that we rarely forget where it was bought or who gave it as a gift.
In a world of Plastic, leather enjoys an empathy in societies all over the world.Information compiled from publications by:
B. W. A .Lake. Ginninderra Leather & Trading ACT.
Bungendore Village NSW. Lake`s Leathercraft. Federated Tanners Association of Australia. D Hollinger and J Montgomery.
Australian Association of Leather Industries
Country Life (NSW) Newspaper P/L Labels: leather tanned leathers |
