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Leather is a natural product. It has individual characteristics which make each sofa unique. Leather will always bear the marks of its natural origin, which can include shading variations, scratches and wrinkles. These markings should not be viewed as defects, but as confirmation that you have purchased genuine leather and not an imitation. These markings will depend on the grade of leather you have selected. In this section we have tried to explain some of the leather terminology and the vast array of leather types that are available
What is Aniline Leather?
Leather that has been dyed by immersion in a dye bath and has not received a pigmented finish or been chemically treated. This is the most natural grade of leather. Characteristics Include:
Very soft handle
Extremely delicate
Colour variation
Low light resistance
Susceptible to soiling
All characteristics of the hide remain visible, giving it unique appeal
Pure Aniline Vs Full Aniline
Pure Aniline: Only the finest hides in the world fall in this category. Lovers of truly natural products are particular fond of these leathers. Through the years this type of leather develops a patina which adds to its value as a focal point in any room. Only 5% of the total world hide supply fall in this category. Only "A" grade hides meet this criteria.
Full Aniline: Also, some of the finest hides in the world fall in this category. The only difference is a slightly lower selection of hides can be used here. A slight protective finish (usually micro pigments) is applied by roller or in the tannage to give the leather some serviceability.
What is Semi-Aniline Leather? (Praga / Iris)
These leathers are processed a little more, first by aniline dying in large drums like the leathers above, but then also finished on top. Spray pigments of colour are applied to the tops of the hides to even out the finish and camouflage naturally occurring imperfections.
These leathers are light resistant and scratch resistant and are easily cleaned. The next 10 - 15% of the world hide supply fall in this category. "B" grade hides meet these criteria.
Leather in which the base coat of the finish contains pigment, but later coats contain a contrasting pigment, to give a two-tone appearance designed to imitate Aniline leather.
•Soft to handle
•Improved resistance to wear and light
•Natural characteristics almost as evident as full Aniline hide
What is Pigmented Leather? (Georgia)
Leather to whose grain surface a finish containing fine pigment particles in a binder has been applied.
The most durable of hides
High resistance to wear, soiling and light
What is Corrected Grain Leather? (Justine corner, Venezia, Roma, Verona)
The next 18% of hides fall into this category of leather. These leathers have more processing done like sanding, buffing. Embossing and heavily pigmenting, to cover natural imperfections. Insect bites, barbed wire scrapes, horn scratches, etc are removed to a uniform thickness by sanding before finishing.
Top grain leather is from the top 3/64 of an inch or 0.9 mm to 1.5 mm of the outer grain of the leather hide. See properties of leather and is the minimum recommended for furniture, not splits as shown in the cuts below. "C" grade hides meet these criteria.
The last 65% of the world hide supply are not suitable for upholstery; instead it is used for clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, industrial, and the automotive industry.
Leather from which the grain layer has been partially removed by buffing. This removes imperfections before the surface coating is applied.
High resistance to wear, soiling and light
Less evidence of natural characteristics on the finished article
What is Top Grain Leather?
The most confusing term used in the furniture industry is the term " top grain'. It can be a contradiction because it often implies what it is not. "Top grain", is the definition that is generally used when the grain is not genuine: when the real grain is sanded away and an imitation grain is stamped into the leather. When the genuine grain remains, the leather is called, "full grain," or " full top grain, " not simply" top grain." Webster dictionary offers nearly a hundred definitions for the word "top". They include, the highest point, the summit, the best, the upper-surface, the lid, the supreme, the choicest part, the cream, the pick. It also means to excel, to surpass, to dominate or to be superior to the rest. When one hears the term "top grain" it's reasonable to assume it's the best. But, if the real grain is gone, can that be true? If the real grain was removed and replaced by an imitation grain, the result is neither the best nor the uppermost. If you want the best, insist upon leather, which retains the entire original grain. Insist upon receiving the full grain. Top grain is generally not the tops!
What is Full Grain Leather?
Just as the grain, texture and markings of wood should reveal the nature of the tree from which it came, leather should display the natural markings and grain characteristics of the animal from which it was taken. The best upholstery leathers are clean, clear, and supple. They are also dyed through with transparent aniline dyes. The full natural grain is retained and they are called "full grain leather."
Cheaper leather has the natural or genuine grain sanded away and an imitation grain pressed or embossed into the surface. They are stiff and "boardy" with a heavy coating of pigmentation to cover up imperfections and they look and feel much like plastic. The better the quality of hide or skin, the less it has to be treated. The natural grain variations should be exposed. One should see the "fat wrinkles" and the feel, or hand, should be supple and natural to the touch.
So when choosing your leather, make sure it looks natural, smells good, and has a soft hand. Inspect your leather carefully. Make certain that it retains the full natural grain. Full grain leather - it is the tops! Hides selected for furniture are sliced to a uniform thickness on precision machines. Only the surface (top grain) is used. The lower portions or splits are weaker, due to the elongated cell structure. Splits are subject to stretching and therefore provide an unstable base, which results in cracking of topcoat, finishes. The familiar "chamois" used in auto care is an example of split leather.
These terms below are classified at the tannery level and are not grades of leathers used by manufactures. For furniture manufacture grades, see individual companies for their leather grading structure. "This information listed here is a grading structure used at the tannery level and are not grades of leather used by manufactures on their furniture. For the production of every kind of hides for furnishings, from the most prized to the most ordinary, hides from various countries and regions are used. Pig hides are also used in the furniture industry, but this sort of leather does not meet durability requirements or quality. The place of origin of raw hides can be divided into three groups.
•A.Hides from Southern Germany, Hides from Swiss pastures; Scandinavian Bull hides from Norway and Finland. Hides from Northern Italy.
•B. Hides from Northern Germany, English hides, Dutch hides, and North American US hides.
•C. Australian Hides, African hides, South American hides, Hides from Asia.
What is ‘Split Leather’ ?
A single layer from a hide or skin that has been separated over its whole area into two or more layers. Leather made from the flesh split or middle split, with a polymer coating applied and embossed to mimic leather.
This is often used on the less hard-wearing parts of a suite eg the backs and sides.
What is Antique/Distressed Leather?
A special surface effect designed to mimic the unique worn appearance of traditional leathers. A contrasting top coat is unevenly applied to reveal a paler, underlying colour (also known as two-tone or rub off leather).
What is Bi-cast Leather? (Elena)
This type of leather has a high gloss finish and is not supple to the touch. This is due to the manufacturing process – leather is buffed and coloured and then laminated with a layer of plastic. This gives greater durability and ease of repair. |
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