DEER SKIN TANNING

Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw skin into usable leather products using fundamental techniques and materials. Learn to produce incredibly soft, strong, and durable leather from raw animal skin using one of humankind’s earliest tanning technologies! We will walk through the steps of this transformation, utilizing materials readily available in the surrounding environment.

This class will focus on tanning Deer Skin with a variation of fat tanning using lecithin as the dressing agent. Whilst not for the squeamish, the end product is worth the work! The class will cover desalinating preserved skins, de-fleshing, de-hairing, de-graining, and softening the skins, as well as

smoking them so they can be easily washed.

In addition to enthusiastic instruction, I provide comfortable, easy-to-use tools and detailed handouts covering the tanning process, as well as ethnographic anecdotes and a list of helpful literature for those who wish to further their knowledge of tanning! So, please join me for a course sure to contain plenty of memorable moments, lots of practical information, and, if you put in the work**, one that will see you heading home with a beautiful, unique, and usable traditionally tanned skin!

* Using brains or egg yolks as an alternative dressing agent will be covered.

** Please be aware that a reasonable amount of fitness is required for this course. I will provide instruction on good technique and timing with the skins, but you will need to be able to be on your feet and active for 6 to 8 hours per day. 

Any serious injuries need to be discussed with me before booking the course!

Additional Information:

Duration: 3 days (Saturday 10:00 am - Monday ± 4:00 pm)

Prerequisites: None

Venue: Butser Ancient Farm is one of the oldest open-air museums in the UK. It has an amazing array of reconstructed houses from the Stone Age to the Roman Era. Set in a picturesque valley in Hampshire, the venue alone is worth a visit and is an amazing place to hold a course!

Catering: This course is self-catered. I am many things, but a good cook is not one of them!

Included: All course materials, coffee/tea.

Not included: Off-site Accommodation and food.

Accommodation:

Camping in one of the reconstructed houses on site  will be the easiest (and the most fun) option for accommodation for the course! However, hotels and B&Bs are available and are approximately a 20-minute drive from the course site if you prefer a bit more luxury. Local campsites are also available nearby.

*An additional fee is required to camp in the reconstructed houses.

Included: All course materials, coffee/tea

For more information, visit:

https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/whats-on/deer-skin-tanning-workshop