Gilt leather border, decorated with red flock, Spain or Italy, ca. 1500-1600.

The pattern consists of a vase with a lion 'rampant', and floral scroll work on either side; borders of diagonal lines and discs. The gilded parts have been punched with five different stamps. The silver foils measure ca. 8.3 x 8.3 cm

RP 31783/1901, Mr. Walter Crane's report, dd. 9/11/1901: "Piece of Spanish Leather 30 s. Small woven silk border, Persian brocade 35 s. Silk hanging fragment. Venetian £ 2. Coptic bag 25 s. Italian velvet hanging £ 7. Embroidered sqaure £ 4. Elizabethan (?) dress £ 30. Of the above I recommend the bit of Spanish leather, and the Italian velvet hanging as the most desirable though the prices are high'.

Bought for £1 10s 0d from J. Sasson & Co., 62 Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, W.

"Panel of leather covered with silver foil lacquered to represent gilding, partly stamped and painted. In the centre is a vase on either side of which is a lion 'rampant', amid floral scrollwork; at the top and bottom is a border of diagonal lines alternating with discs. Spanish (Cordova); 16th century. Rubbed and torn; there is a row of small holes around the edge."

Museum of Leathercraft, Northampton, inventory number 47-1947 (J.W. Waterer, Spanish Leather, London 1971, pl. 19).

This border has been analysed as part of the gilt leather cataloguing project in 1996. Eloy Koldeweij, October 1996

See also: A Technical investigation into the methods and materials used for gilt leather manufacture from the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum (unpublished report, c.1996, held by the FTF Dept.), item 9
Report prepared by Christopher Calnan, Adviser on Conservation of Organic Materials at the National Trust, London.
Examination of decorative surface carried out by Catherine Hassell, University College, London
Examination of vegetable tannins carried out by Jan Wouters, KIK, Brussels.

1651-1901