LEATHER CRAFTSMAN

The leather craftsman is the one who masters the work of the leather. In fact, he handles the cutting of the leather, its shape, and its flexibility, in order to realize art pieces or utilitarian pieces.

Short story of the leather craftsman

The know-how is a part of the leatherworking sector. It represents the confection of all objects made of leather: bags, purses, belts, jewellery, etc. In fact, this speciality is composed of several trades and several know-hows:

• The tanner transforms the skin into a rot-resistant material.
• The corroyeur, in French, softens the leather after the tanner’s work.
• The baudroyeur, in French, colors the leather.
• The leather craftsman works the goat skins already tanned.
• The malletier in French, the binder and the designer.
• The sheathing masters creates or sells sheathing articles.

The leather craftsman trade is the technique from the Moroccans. It is the work of the Morocco leather, or the work of goat skin tanned, or the sheep skin tanned and tinted. This know-how requires being multipurpose because of the necessity to master several techniques. In fact, the leather craftsman creates with his hands all utilitarian objects with leather, from the prototype part to the confection part, passing by the leather selection and the leather assembly.

From the Prehistoric times, the humans used the animal skin to protect from the weather. Under Ancient Egypt, objects made of leather such as shoes were found in graves. Besides, these accessories were a mark of a social rank. The Greeks used the leather further for the creation of clothes, weapons, horse-riding equipment, sport equipment, and also as a writing support.

The utilisation of the leather never stopped being developed through the ages with the appearance of the leather trunk, the wallets, and all equipment for all sorts of utilitarian objects. With the technical progress, this noble material becomes a powerful industry in the luxury field (mode, automobile, etc.).

Valentine Huyghues Despointes, leather craftsman

Valentine Huyghues Despointes masters the leather craftsman trade. She is specialized in marquetry and sheathing. This know-how represents the assembly of pieces of leather on a flat surface. Her confections are realized for luxury brands, for private individuals or for a creative and artistic goal.

In her workshop, she and her co-worker Melanie, create pieces with an accurate methodology. A drawing is often realized in the first place in order to visualise the model. Afterwards, this one is sculpted with the hand, entrusted to a cabinetmaker or realised with 3D printing. The leather is next selected, worked, sheathed on the model. Then, the edges are well made.

The tools are essential, and the more important ones are the awl and the folding tool, but also the spatula, the leather splitter, etc.

This know-how required a great adaptability.