Leather and Parchment

Physical identification

Tanned hides, parchment, footwear, bindings and written material. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Humidity swings distort.
• Do not flatten by force.
• Ink and skin need specialists.

Provenance and lawful movement

Document texture, joins, deposits, corrosion, movement and prior treatment. Stop handling when surfaces powder, flakes lift, corrosion appears active or cracks move.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.