Leather

Introduction

Animal skin products have been used since ancient times, and continue to be used. Leather's durability and workability have made it a very important domestic and commercial product.

Leather has been used in the manufacture of an enormous range of objects, including clothing, saddles, boats, thongs, shields, aprons, shoes, upholstery straps and belts, and covers for books. It has been decorated with gold, dyed, moulded and polished.

While most museums, galleries and libraries in Australia do not have examples of ancient leather, many have leather objects of some kind. It is important that you have the information you need to properly care for the leather objects in your collections.