Shell Cordovan

The leather derives its name from the city of Cordoba, Spain, where it was first produced by the Visigoths in the seventh century, and later also by the Moors. That is why this particular leather is known as Cordovan. It is a difficult leather to tan, and in the late 19th and early 20th century was mostly used for razor strops to hone razors in barber shops.

Shell Cordovan is made from the hindquarters of a horse; specifically the shell of its rump. It contains no grain, which means it doesn't have visible pores or follicles. Instead, it has a smooth, shiny surface that can be polished to a well-known, brilliant shine. It's resistant to water and stretching, which makes it ideal for shoes, boots, watch straps, and wallets.

The slow production processes is essential, an requires great skill.  After the hair is removed from the hide, it's tanned and dyed. It's then stuffed with a special blend of oils and waxes, giving it its characteristic gloss. Finally, it's hand-polished.These laborious steps help explain why the cost is far higher than its other vegetable tanned counterparts. The main characteristics of Cordovan are its extreme durability, unique, dense texture, and the rich patina which develops with use.

The first Cordovan Shells I purchased come from Corium Shell Cordovan in Italy. They are in the Toscano finish (hatched texture) and are an absolute dream to work with, and stunning enough to admire as-is. Initially, I didn't even want to cut into them, but after the first card sleeve was finished, I was so happy to have made the decision to invest in some Shells. The texture is top-notch, so dense, and with such a unique hand.

I'm offering some Shell Cordovan card sleeves and other minimalist- style goods in the coming weeks, so sign up for newsletters to be the first one notified when they are released!