MATERIALS USED
LEATHER.
All leather is sourced from reputable suppliers and tanneries in Europe, and occasionally from the USA. Only full-grain, superb-quality vegetable-tanned hides are used. Photos are available in the Custom Order section.
Pueblo: Badalassi Carlo Tannery. Pueblo has an intentionally rustic look and unique surface. It’s a classical oiled Vacchetta, produced following a Tuscan tradition which is considered the best tanning process in the world. Excellent for the exterior and interior of just about everything.
Buttero Marbled: Conciera Walpier Tannery. Deep, rich colors. Great for wallet pockets and inner sections.
Buttero: Conciera Walpier Tannery. Smooth and textured, in black, whiskey, red, and natural. A very firm, rigid leather.
Shell Cordovan: Selections will vary. Please contact me for availability and colors.
Cowboy Waxy: Conciera La Bretagna. In tobacco and black. Waxy, pull-up finish. Tobacco waxy is one of my all-time favorites; it's just plain gorgeous, and the tones created by the pull-up finish are unmatchable.
Horween Derby: Chicago, USA. In black and nut brown colors. Rustic feel, rugged look. Its finish will exhibit a slight pull-up effect when bent or folded. Beautiful patina.
Minerva Liscio: Badalassi Carlo Tannery. It is characterized by a very natural and beautiful smooth surface. Classical oiled “Vachetta" made in Tuscany, representing the most historical kind of leather available. It has a soft temper, moreover if rubbed, this skin becomes more shiny and beautiful. Usage and time pull the best out of it. Great for checkbook/passport/Field Note covers.
Vegetable-tanned, unfinished: Vegetable-tanned leather is distinguished from the others with a natural, unfinished appearance. Excellent quality and these are the panels I use when hand-marbling.
Rocky: Conceria Walpier Tannery. Oiled leather, is characterized by a beautiful, natural finish with a deep and rich color. Rocky Leather is a pressed Sego (tallow) oiled Vacchetta. Tanning agents are obtained in nature mainly from flowers and tree bark. This and Dakota are the leathers I use for belt-making.
Dakota: Conceria La Perla Azzurra Tannery makes some of the nicest leather in the world; and “Dakota” is no exception. It has a silky smooth grain side and a tight, clean flesh side, perfect for belt-making. It's stuffed with just the right amount of fat and oil to give it a moderately dense consistency without feeling greasy or heavy. Gorgeous, finished edges are achievable as there is full dye penetration of both grain and flesh sides. This and Rocky are the leathers I use for belt-making.
Back row from left to right:
black / natural (off-white) / charcoal / olive brown / moss / rust / chocolate
Middle row from left to right:
copper / scarlet / cranberry / violet / cotton candy / plum
Front row from left to right:
butter / emerald / pine / navy / indigo / teal / lead
Solid iron - nickel matte.
Solid brass - nickel plated.
PVD Black matte finish - Beautiful with black leather.
PVD = "Physical Vapor Deposition". A highly accurate plating process which produces an extremely durable finish to prevent scratching. Typically, black hardware that is found in the marketplace is not PVD, and is generally considered a black spray paint causing it to chip and scratch off within days. PVD plating is the process used to plate high end watch hardware, golf clubs, etc., and the only successful way to make a black that will not wear off.
PAINT.
All of the hand marbled panels are made with Professional Angelus acrylic leather paints. These colors don't wear off or crack. All marbled panels are sealed with leather conditioner and a matte (not shiny) acrylic finisher for protection and to ensure many years of use.
