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The outer layer of an animal skin, usually a domestic species such as goat, sheep or cow, which is tanned to make it strong, durable and resistant to biological degradation. The principal component of leather is an interlocking three-dimensional network of fibers of collagen, a type of protein. The skin of an animal is cleaned, scraped and de-haired and then soaked in a series of solutions, some of which contain tannin. Historically a variety of vegetal materials were used as tannin sources. During the tanning process, the protein molecules in the leather become more durable and resistant to microbiological attack and turn a brown color.
- # Technically, alum-tawed skin is not leather, as alum-tawing is a different chemical process that leaves the skin still vulnerable to decay in wet conditions. However, alum-tawed skin is not infrequently referred to as leather, especially when it has not been clearly identified.
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AUTHORS: PAUL HEPWORTH AND KARIN SCHEPER