Leathers, Skins and Tools for Artistic Leather Work

By Anon Anon

This vintage book contains a comprehensive guide to decorating leather, with information on staining, painting, modelling, tools and equipment, and many other related aspects. Written in simple plain language and full of handy tips, this book is ideal for the beginner, and is not to be missed by collectors of classic leatherworking literature. Contents include: “The Charm of Artistic Leatherwork”, “Drawing the Design”, “Tracing”, “Incising”, “Opening”, “Modelling”, “Punching Backgrounds”, “Embossing”, “Colouring”, “Painting Leather with Oil Colour”, “Painting Leather with Water Colours”, “Gilding”, etc. Many vintage books like this are becoming increasingly hard-to-come-by and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality addition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on leatherworking. A helpful workshop companion for anybody interested in working with leather either for fun or for profit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: May 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781473380189

Book preview

THESE DESIGNS MAY BE PURCHASED FULL SIZE ON GOOD PAPER OR TRACING LINEN, SEE PAGE 40.

DRAWING THE DESIGN

Draw out, double size, the design No. 4 shown on page 6. Do this on a thin, tough sheet of cartridge paper—do not use the common kind—you will probably have to make several alterations, and common paper will not stand the repeated friction of the rubber.

If you have a drawing board, pin the paper squarely on the board, and with a compass faintly draw the circle in which the design is contained, after first measuring it up double size. Then draw faint lines across diagonally, which will enable you to reproduce each leaf more accurately.

You will be well advised to give time and patience to every step taken, and for that reason we have more fully explained how to do the pencil drawing, in order that you should do it well.

You may of course purchase any of the designs on page 6, ready for use, should you wish to avoid drawing.

TRACING

Assuming your pencil drawing is now neatly copied, cut the paper carefully, leaving about half an inch margin between the edge of the paper and the design. Next, lay the piece of leather on the drawing board, face upwards, and place the design over it. Clip both down with drawing pins so that the heads hold them tightly, without letting the pins go through the leather or paper.

The first tool to use now will be the tracer, with which you will go, very carefully and firmly, over your pencil lines. This operation should result in a clearly seen impression whereever the tracer point has been—to make sure all is well, lift up the corner of the paper as you work, to see if the design is easily