Dark Age Leather Finishing

Halfdan · Post by **Halfdan** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 4:45 pm

So I've been using neetsfoot oil to darken and treat my leather. I kind of don't like it because it stays greasy pretty much indefinitely. Plus, a friend of mine has a belt and pouch from Jelling Dragon (a reasonably authenticity-based outfitter) that seems to only be dyed on the surface and has some sort of coating over it (that doesn't seem to be beeswax). Does anybody have any information on pre-1066 leather treament for Western Europe?

Thanks,

Halfdan

JesseB · Post by **JesseB** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 6:41 pm

If you want it dark just put it out in the sun with some oil on and it will get a nice aged look. Or you can try iron filings and it will almost get black.

Egfroth · Post by **Egfroth** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 3:00 am

As far as I'm aware, there's not likely to be much info on what was actually used at the time, because the only leather of the period that still exists - found in archaeological digs - has been preserved by being sunk in mud for many centuries, and any trace of the leather treatment is not likely to have survived.

However, if you want to find out, you would probably be best contacting the Jorvik Viking Centre in York (England) and getting a copy of the book on leather finds. If anybody has anything on the leather treatment, they are the most likely - unless you can find something similar from Scandinavia.

A google search should turn up the JVC and contact details.

Michael B · Post by **Michael B** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 9:06 pm

An alternative to neatsfoot oil is dubbin (probably available at shoe and horse tack shops, if not your supermarket). It's a yellow paste in a tin, but darkens leather like oil. Rub in, leave overnight (perhaps somewhere warm), and polish vigourously with a soft cloth as you might to shine shoes. Should not remain greasy for long.

Again, how "authentic" this is is debatable.