Class XVI.]

AWARDS—CURRIED AND VARNISHED LEATHER.

391

Boutchkr, Mortihore, and Co. (293, p. 529), fortanned sole leather.

Bucknall, George (293, p. 293), for tanned hippo-potamus hides of remarkable thickness.

Buschmann, J. W., St. Vith (386, Prussia, p. 1072),for well-manufactured sole leather.

Kstivast Brothers, Givet , Ardennes (1214, France ,p. 1235), for a Buenos Ayres hide, tanned in oak bark.

Evershed, Sussex (293, p. 529), for well-tanned lightsole leather.

Hauser, J. de J., Waedenschwyl, Canton Zurich (172,Switzerland , p. 1277), for a specimen of sole leather,tanned in oak bark.

Holmes, T., Hull (16, p. 518), for specimens of thetanned hide of the walrus, and polishing wheels coveredwith the same; also for stuffed heads of the male andfemale walrus, taken at the Davis’ Straits fisheries.

Kelsey, J. T., Lingfield, Sussex (266, p 528), for awell-tanned crop hide, weighing 82 lbs. The process oftanning occupied two years.

Masson, Charles, Huy (267, Belgium , p. 1152), fortanned sole leather of good quality.

Curried Leather.

Leather, having been first tanned and dried, requiresto be reduced to an even substance, to be well extended,and made supple with fat or oil, before it is fit for theupper part of boots. In the latter operations consists theart of the currier; and although much of the strength ofthe leather depends upon the previous treatment, stillgreat attention and judgment are required to conduct thisprocess perfectly. No article enters more generally intothe consumption of the affluent and labouring classes;and it is evidently a subject of some importance to adoptthose methods of currying which secure the greatestsuppleness of leather, combined with durability.

The manufacturers of France have for many yearsexcelled in their mode of tanning and currying the finestdescriptions of calf leather: those from the south ofFrauce (Bordeaux calf), which are reported to have beentanned with the bark of the evergreen oak, are extremelysoft and pliable, and their merits are obvious from theextensive sale they meet with in this country. The modeof tanning and currying pursued by the English ex-hibitors is adapted to bear exposure to wet, and greatimprovement has taken place in the method of renderingthe leather soft and easy to the wearer. The Swiss exhibitors have shown some very excellent leather of thisclass, for the upper parts of boots and shoes.

There are upwards of 70 exhibitors of curried leather,of whom 20 are in the French division, 13 in the English ,and the remaining 44 are distributed through every sec-tion of the Building.

The Jury award Prize Medals to the following Exhi-bitors :—

Bossard, I., Church Street, Bermondsey , London (294,p. 529), for curried calf leather of superior qualities, com-bining great strength with softness and pliability.

Courtkree-Duchesney, 11 Rue du Renard, St. Sau-veur, Paris (806, France , p. 1219), for boot-fronts, verypliable, and of good quality, principally manufacturedfrom the calf skins of Paris .

Cozens and Grf.atrex, Walsall , Staffordshire (283,p. 528), for tanned and curried leather, adapted forbridles, and for well-manufactured hog skins.

Dezaux-Lacour, Guise , France (167, France , p. 1181),for curried calf skins and well-tanned sole leather.

Guillot, J. A., 17 Ruedu Boulai, Paris (534, Frauce,p. 1204), boot-fronts of various kinds, very well manu-factured.

Hemsworth and Lixley, West Smithfield, London (20, p. 519\ for boot-fronts, and cordovan of excellentquality and workmanship.

Herrexschmidt, G. F. Strasbourg (538, France ,p. 1204), for boot-fronts, and curried calf-skins, soft intexture.

Jetu, C. A., Quebec (109, Canada , p. 965\ for curriedporpoise leather, and samples of leather from the skin ofthe whale; the porpoise leather is of fine texture and con-

siderable toughness, aud is remarkable as the first of thekind exhibited in this country.

Lambert and Sox, Bermondsey New Road, London (63, p. 521), for waxed calf skin boot-fronts, and cordo-van, of good qualities and workmanship.

Puis, A., Jun., Nantes (1411, France , p. 1243), forrusset and black curried calf leather, well manufac-tured.

Mercier, J. J., Lausanne (175, Switzerland , p. 1277),for curried calf leather, boot-fronts, and chamois leather,well manufactured for the purposes to which they areapplicable.

Merklinghaus and Wex, Barmen (672, Prussia,p. 1087), for dressed hides manufactured for saddlery andharness.

Skvorsoff, M., Moscow (232, Russia , p. 1374 , forcurried calf leather of good quality, and a few calf skinstanned and curried, with the hair attached as an insidelining for the boot; extremely soft and pliable.

Stockil, W., 33 Long Lane, Bermondsey , London (17,p. 518), for specimens of boot-fronts, very well curriedfrom the English leather.

Suser, H., Nantes , France (1022, France , p. 1227), fora good assortment of curried calf leather and foot-fronts.

Yentujol and Chassang, 21 Rue des Gobelins (1384,France , p. 1242), for boot-fronts manufactured from Bor­ deaux calf skins, remarkable for peculiar softness, fine-ness of texture, and the great toughness of the material.

The Jury make Honourable Mention of the followingExhibitors;—

Budin. R. A., Rue du Ferh, Moulin, Paris (77, France ,p. 1175), for curried horse hides, suited to the upper partof hoots and shoes.

Bi;se, N., Swansea , Wales (4, p. 518), for curried calfleather, well manufactured.

Fortier Beaulieu, Rue de la Lunette (510, France ,p. 1203), for curried leather suitable for harness andsaddlery.

Giiislaix-Dubois, Binche (4G9, Belgium , p. 1166), forcow hide curried for strap leather.

IIogakty Brothers, Cork , Ireland (13, p. 518), forcurried calf leather and boot-fronts, very well manufac-tured.

Massf.min, C. L., Rue de la Reyne, Paris (1345,France , p. 1240), for calf leather adapted for boot-fronts.

Obercoxz, II., Treves (383, Prussia, p. 1072), forcurried leather, and for a well-tanned hide, a perfect imi-tation of Russian leather.

Paillart Brothers, Rue du Grand St. Michel, Paris (338, France , p. 1193), for calf and sheep leather manu-factured for straps and rollers.

Reulos, A. J., 13 Rue Geoffrey St. Hilaire, Paris (1434, France , p. 1244), for curried horse leather, adaptedfor boots and shoes.

Southey and Co., Lincoln’s-Iun Fields, London (51,p. 520), for an extensive assortment of good leather, ma-nufactured for coach and harness makers.

Taiixkt, V., Brussels (254, Belgium , p. 1159), forboot and shoe leather, well manufactured.

Wood, W. and S., 32 Bow Street, London (25, p. 519),for a well-manufactured assortment of calf skins, curriedand dyed in imitation of Morocco leather.

Varnished Leather.

Varnished and enamelled leather has been brought togreat perfection during the last 25 years, and increasesin general demand as the improvements in its manufac-ture become generally known. Though the difficulty ofmaking a bright varnish adhere to leather which is re-quired to bend freely, and retain an unbroken surface, isconsiderable, it has* been successfully overcome by theuse of boiled linseed oil, mixed with vegetable black andPrussian blue to deepen the colour. This composition(the consistence of a thick paste) is rubbed on to thesurface of the leather by hand, and dried in a stove heatedto 150 and 170 degrees Fah 1 . The operation is repeatedfrom three to seven times, according to the nature of theleather, and when the varnish is thoroughly dry, it is