When did water forming leather begin?

[Erich]

Hi,
I'm trying to nail down some historical accuracy for a couple of projects.
Does anyone know when water forming leather items began?
I'm referring to the style of leather working in which wet leather is stretched over a form and allowed to dry before it is attached to another piece to complete a project.

Thanks

[Dan Howard]

The process was used in the bronze age

[Baron Alcyoneus]

Is there enough evidence to let us presume that it was in continuous use up through the Middle Ages/Renaissance?

What areas do we know used it?

[Dan Howard]

It seems to have been used everywhere. How else can you mould rigid leather and rawhide except by holding the piece in the desired shape while it is damp enough to be pliable and then waiting for it to dry?

[James B.]

Shoes are formed over a last, the bits of extant leather armor and formed, leather containers are make on forms.

[Erich]

Thanks for the replies, that's kinda what I thought.
I guess what I am looking for are sources that might confirm the common knowledge.
My goal is to be able to write accurate documentation for SCA Arts & Sciences competitions.

Thanks

[Wolf]

Leather & the Warrior (1981)
By John Waterer hardback

"The only publication of its kind dealing with the history and importance of leather to the fighting man from ancient Greeks to World War II.
158 illustrations."

[Dan Howard]

Hide shields were shaped by pressing damp hide into a mould and allowing it to dry. Shield moulds with Hittite motifs have been found in Egyptian workshops dating to the reign of Rameses II. It seems that the Egyptians made shields for the Hittites for a while - probably during the alliance that was formed when Rameses married the eldest daughter of Hattusili III. I'm pretty sure we have shield moulds from the British Bronze Age too.

[Kel Rekuta]

There is a wooden shield press in the Irish Museum of Archaeology. IIRC is dated circa 300BC.
I think it is mentioned in Waterer's book. I seem to recall another one being found more recently in Scandinavia, which country I don't recall.

[Erich]

Thanks for the info, this is just what I was looking for.
I think it is reasonable to assume that if shields were made by pressing wet leather into a mold and shoes by stretching leather over lasts, then other leather items could be wet molded as well.

I also managed to track down Leather & the Warrior at Amazon, but at a price tag of over $300.00, I think Ill try for an inter-library loan.

Thanks Again

[Kel Rekuta]

Ah... Please support the Museum of Leathercraft by buying the publication directly from them. Even with shipping, its cheaper. Check it out.

http://www.museumofleathercraft.org/publications/

[Erich]

£17.50 (about $26.70) as opposed to $361.89?
Yeah, I think I'll be ordering the book from the museum, thanks for the tip.