Glossary of Terms

A hide which has only been treated to preserve it prior to tanning.

A modifying secondary tannage applied after intermediate operations following the primary tannage, either to even out the primary tannage or impart different properties to the leather.

Leather which has been subjected to an additional tannage after primary tannage, with similar or other tanning materials.

If something has a fastness to something, then it will not change its properties in its presence, e.g. something that is fast to rubbing or has good rub fastness, will not change colour easily when rubbed.

The resistance of a leather to the rubbing effect of a felt pad, either wet or dry, to simulate wear in use.

A type of leather with a fugitive top coat that, once treated with the appropriate chemicals, moves and creates an antique effect.  This effect must then be sealed with a lacquer to stop any further movement.

A term of varied meaning in the leather trade, since it denotes both color and tannage.  Russet calf is the natural color of unfinished calf leather resulting from tannage by vegetable extracts, typically russet coloured.

Russet harness is a completely finished leather of bright, clean, uniform color and finish.

Russet sheepskin originally was leather used for shoe linings, tanned in cold-leached hemlock bark, with the colour resulting from the hemlock. 

Nowadays, it is  sheepskin coloured to resemble tanning by vegetable extracts.  Russet upholstery is leather tanned but not finished.