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

by Georges de Récy

FIG. 28.—GOUGE OUTLINER.
FIG. 29.—OUTLINING WHEEL.
FIG. 30.—GOUGE OUTLINER.
FIG. 31.—STRAIGHT OUTLINER.

When the outline has been worked with the cold tool, a hot one is used to go over it again to ensure perfect adhesion, and to give an attractive brown tint to the lines. The end of the outliner is heated over a spirit-lamp to a degree at which it can still be comfortably held in the hand, and used as before. If the tool does not run smoothly, owing to the elasticity of the edge of the inlaid leather, the latter may be lightly damped with a brush. It will at first be found difficult to keep the tool at the right heat. As a groundwork, calf with a smooth surface is more sensitive to damage from an over-heated tool than split sheepskin. It is useful to paste some of the inlay leather upon a spare piece of the leather of the groundwork, with which to test the heat of the tool. If the tool be too hot, it will burn and penetrate the leather without pressure. It can be cooled to the desired temperature on a wet sponge.

The next process in leather mosaic is that of colouring, which is dealt with in Chapter IV. It then only remains to give the finishing touch to the work by passing a polishing iron (Fig. 32) over the surface, to polish it and make it perfectly even. The tool is heated by holding the part which does not come in contact with the leather over the flame of a spirit-lamp. The polished side should frequently be well rubbed on flannel, and should any portion of its surface become dull, the polish can be restored with fine emery paper. The polishing iron, when heated, is held in the right hand and worked with little stroking movements, bringing first the end and then, by lowering the handle, the back of its polished surface in contact with the leather. The various positions of the tool during this operation closely resemble those of a vessel when it is pitching.

10. Cover of work-box of wood covered with embossed leather, cuir bouilli. German, 16th Century.

11. Powder-flask of wood covered with leather, cuir bouilli, cut and embossed. Italian, 16th Century.