LEATHER
"Skins of beasts were used by primitive man for making his protective covering, and as the processes became known for tanning, leather assumed an important role, extending from ancient times to the present day in the life of mankind.
Hand-made leather goods are well worth having, durable and individual, expressed in general design and good workmanship" ......
The above introduction is found in "Handicrafts of the Country Women's Association of Victoria" (CWA) published in 1968.
For more information on leatherwork see here.
Below are two leather needlebooks which I think were handmade.
Left - dyed green with decorative painting of a rose which has deteriorated a little.
Right - very well painted kookaburras.
Top - the inside of the kookaburra needlebook with a totally unsuitable heavy cotton insert.Bottom - the inside of the rose needlebook.
Below is a very attractive leather needlebook with a crinoline lady on the cover. I believe this to have possibly been mass-produced. Maybe in a cottage industry by leather workers, the detail is lovely. The crinoline lady figure has been individually worked and glued on to the front as are the tiny flowers.
Below - while not specifically needlebooks, I have included these as they are obviously from the same makers as the needlebook above.
Two mending sets made of leather.
How much can a Koala bear? The Koala is not a bear but a marsupial. More information on the Koala will be found here.Below - this thicker leather needlebook is Made in England with an embossed Koala on its cover, it says 'Koala Bear' underneath the picture.
Below - inside the Koala needlebook - made by Kirby Beard & Co. Ltd and showing the elephant trademark.
Coming soon - Part Five
Redditch Needle Companies - Morrall, Kirby Beard, Milward, Bayliss, Crowley, etc.....
No comments:
Post a Comment