
Conservation of Leather and Related Materials
- 1st Edition - November 21, 2005
- Imprint: Butterworth-Heinemann
- Editors: Marion Kite, Roy Thomson
- Language: English
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 0 8 - 0 4 5 4 6 6 - 5
The conservation of skin, leather and related materials is an area that, until now, has had little representation by the written word in book form. Marion Kite and Roy Thomson, of… Read more
Purchase options

The conservation of skin, leather and related materials is an area that, until now, has had little representation by the written word in book form. Marion Kite and Roy Thomson, of the Leather Conservation Centre, have prepared a text which is both authoritative and comprehensive, including contributions from the leading specialists in their fields, such as Betty Haines, Mary Lou Florian, Ester Cameron and Jim Spriggs.
The book covers all aspects of Skin and Leather preservation, from Cuir Bouillie to Bookbindings. There is significant discussion of the technical and chemical elements necessary in conservation, meaning that professional conservators will find the book a vital part of their collection.
As part of the Butterworth-Heinemann Black series, the book carries the stamp of approval of the leading figures in the world of Conservation and Museology, and as such it is the only publication available on the topic carrying this immediate mark of authority.
The book covers all aspects of Skin and Leather preservation, from Cuir Bouillie to Bookbindings. There is significant discussion of the technical and chemical elements necessary in conservation, meaning that professional conservators will find the book a vital part of their collection.
As part of the Butterworth-Heinemann Black series, the book carries the stamp of approval of the leading figures in the world of Conservation and Museology, and as such it is the only publication available on the topic carrying this immediate mark of authority.
* First book to cover the subject comprehensively
* Wide coverage, including Fish and Reptiles, Taxidermy and Furs, making it invaluable for conservator, curator and collector alike
* Technical aspects of conservation discussed in full
* Wide coverage, including Fish and Reptiles, Taxidermy and Furs, making it invaluable for conservator, curator and collector alike
* Technical aspects of conservation discussed in full
Professional and student conservators, curators, private owners and collectors
Introduction; Dedication; Foreward; The nature and properties of leather; Collagen: the leathermaking protein; The fibre structure of leather: The chemistry of tanning materials; The mechanisms of deterioration in leather; Testing leathers and related materials; The manufacture of leather; The social position of Leatherworkers; Gilt leather; Cuir bouilli; The tools and techniques of leatherworking: correct tools + skills = quality; General principles of care, storage and display; Materials and techniques: past and present; Taxidermy; Furs and furriery: history, techniques and conservation; The tanning, dressing and conservation of exotic, aquatic and feathered skins; Ethnographic leather and skin products; Collagen products: glues, gelatine, gut membrane and sausage casings; The manufacture of parchment; The conservation of parchment; Conservation of leather bookbindings: a mosaic of contemporary techniques; The conservation of archaeological
leather; Case histories of treatments
leather; Case histories of treatments
- Edition: 1
- Published: November 21, 2005
- Imprint: Butterworth-Heinemann
- Language: English
MK
Marion Kite
Affiliations and expertise
Senior Conservator at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Chairman of the Leather Conservation Centre, UK, since 1999; Was on the Directory Board of ICOM-CC.RT
Roy Thomson
Affiliations and expertise
Recently retired (2004)Chief Executive of the Leather Conservation Centre, UK; Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.