The Decoration of Leather / From the French of Georges de Récy

by Georges de Récy

TRACING THE DESIGN ON THE LEATHER

In this chapter the different processes which may be used in the decoration of leather will each be described in turn.

The preliminary operation of tracing the design on the leather is however common to them all.

The design should in the first instance be drawn on fairly thick tracing-paper or architect’s linen. This should then be fixed on the leather in such a way that it does not move during the transfer of the design, but so that it is possible to lift it to ascertain the progress of the work. It will be found convenient to fold the edge of the tracing-paper over the top edge of the leather and fix it with seccotine.

The leather must be wet in order to take the impression of the tracing. A soft, slightly damp sponge is passed several times evenly over the whole surface; if only a part of the leather were wetted an aureole would form round that part and would leave a permanent mark. When the leather has once been wetted all over there is no further fear of this, and it may then be damped again in parts when necessary. Practice alone will make it possible to judge accurately the degree of saturation that each skin requires to bring it into a fit condition for working on; speaking generally, the water should have penetrated the leather so that the pressure of the tool will not bring it back to the

surface. Neglect of this rule might result in staining the leather.

FIG. 1.—TRACING-POINT

The design is transferred to the leather by means of a metal tracing-point (Fig. 1). An agate or ebony point, or an exceedingly hard 6H graphite pencil, may also be used for the purpose. The pencil possesses the additional advantage that it can be given a very fine point where an extra thin and sharp outline is required. Doubling the outline by going over it twice should be avoided. From time to time the tracing-paper or linen should be raised to see that the design is being well marked on the leather. The outline should be dark; when it comes light it is a proof that the leather is too dry and requires damping again.