Very interesting russian leather recipe (1807)

[claymoor]

I have posted some time ago on my blog an old recipe for russian leather. You can find the recipe here:
http://www.thehcc.org/Juchten.pdf

[SMCK]

Thank you Claymoor, that is the most revelatory thing I have read for a long time.
Russia calf is always spoken of with great reverence as a perfect leather whose formula was lost long ago.
I think I am right in saying that some shops like New and Lingwood who got hold of an ancient bundle of this, sell it as a unique item.
It seems that its recreation is at least technically possible.
I do wonder where you found this.
Many thanks again.

[MTM]

Thanks for this. The HCC is a great organization and has as very informative website.

I wonder if anyone has tried this formula.

[Melcombe]

Some watch straps are advertised as being of Juchten leather



I bought one last year as a replacement strap - and very attractive and hardwearing it is too. It is very similar in feel and appearance to shell cordovan - another highly regarded material that sometimes appears in shoe construction, although not in countries where horses are held in particularly high regard...

I do recall a character in a Waugh novel : "Put out more flags", I think - having a pair of porpoise skin boots (or were they beluga?). Not something likely to be appearing in Church's catalogue any time soon, I suspect.