#33 PLATING, PLATED LEATHER – Pressing leather with a heated metal plate under high pressure. Most furniture leather is usually sanded, pigmented and plated to cover imperfections.

#34 PULL-UP – Describes the behavior of leather that has been treated with oils, waxes, and dyes in such a way that when the leather is pulled or stretched (i.e. on upholstery), the finish becomes lighter in the stretched areas, Considered a mark of high quality.

#35 RECONSTITUTED LEATHER – Material composed of collagen fibers obtained from macerated hide pieces which have been constructed into a fibrous mat.

#36 REFINISHING – Application of finish to leather usually done to correct fading or to cover stains and other damage or effects of aging. Also can be done to change leather from one color to another; usually with some loss of suppleness.

#37 REPAIR – The use of synthetic filler materials to correct minor, isolated damage.

#38 SEMI-ANILINE – Aniline leather to which a matching pigment layer is added to even out the color and add protection.

#39 SHRUNKEN GRAIN LEATHER – A full, natural-grain leather which is shrunken to enlarge and enhance the grain of the leather.

#40 SIDE – Half a hide cut down the middle lengthwise.

#41 SPLIT LEATHER (SPLIT) – Hide sliced in layers of uniform thickness. Split leather can be trimmed and finished as suede. Cheap leathers are sometimes pigmented splits with embossed imitation grain.

#42 SPOT REFINISHING – Application of finish to a small area to cover isolated damage of some sort.

#43 STAINGUARDING – The application of a temporary invisible film to unfinished leather to enhance it’s resistance to stain penetration.

#44 SUEDE – Leathers that are finished by buffing the flesh side (opposite the grain side) to produce a nap. Term refers to the napping process, and is unrelated to the type of hide used. See “Split Leather.”

#45 TANNIN – Astringent substances of plant origin used in tanning leather.

#46 Thickness or Weight – Leather is usually measured in terms of ounces. One ounce equals 1/64th of an inch thickness. Thus, a weight of 7 to 8 oz. means the leather is 7/64th to 8/64th of an inch thickness. In an effort to make leather a uniform thickness, wet hides are run through a splitting machine. However, each animal is different and there is always a slight thickness variation throughout the hide. This is why leathers are usually shown with a range of thickness, such as, 4 to 5 oz., 6 to 7 oz., etc.

#47 TOP GRAIN – The term intended to define genuine grain leather, as opposed to leather which has been pigmented and embossed with a new grain. In reality, top-grain leather usually has had the original grain removed and an imitation grain embossed into the surface.

#48 TWO-TONE: An effect created by applying layers of similar or contrasting dyes to a piece of leather in order to create a mottled or aged appearance. Antiqued and Sauvaged leathers are examples of two-tone leathers.

#49 UNFINISHED LEATHER – Normally defines aniline-dyed, naked leathers with no additional application intended to finish, color or treat in a way that would alter the natural characteristics of the leather.

#50 UPHOLSTERY LEATHER – A general term for leather processed for use in furniture, automobiles, and airplanes.

#51 VAT DYEING – An older method of dying leather sometimes confused with drum dyeing.

#52 VEGETABLE TANNING – A method of hide tanning which utilizes material from organic materials such as bark instead of the traditional chemicals. Vegetable tanned leather has greater body and firmness than traditionally-tanned leather.

#53 WEIGHT – The weight of leather is measured in ounces per square foot.

#54 WHOLE HIDE – Refers to leather created using a full hide, as opposed to a side, and typically intended for use as upholstery leather

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