269
containing calcifi ed formations, respectively. After patents by Erkel ( 1940 ) and
Rose ( 1953 ), Biery and Simmons ( 1955 ) patented the process for preparing leather
from teleost fi shskins (Fig. 6.4 ). There are also more recent patents published. In the
of making fi sh skin leather method patented by Chen ( 2006 ), a fi sh skin with fi sh
scales thereon is washed, cleaned, and tanned. Then, the fi sh scales are removed
from the tanned fi sh skin to expose a plurality of ridges underlying the fi sh scales
and presenting fi sh skin grains. The resultant fi sh skin leather has a skin substrate
surface with fi sh skin grains that include a plurality of ridges which project from the
surface of the skin substrate. I suggest that the methodological principles for fi sh
skin treatment described in the documents listed above, can be used in the modern
laboratories for experimental works of fi sh skin properties and modifi cation like
mineralization and metallization in vitro.
6.2 Shagreen
It cannot be ruled out that ray skin has been used in ancient Egypt, and during the
Chinese Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220). Later, during feudal times, Japanese
samurai crafted their sword handles with biomaterial obtained from shark or ray
skin named shagreen . It was known as material with incredible sturdiness.
The properties of fi sh skin as source suitable to manufacture shagreen is described
as follow:
Sharks and skates skins are usually covered with hard calcifi ed placoid scales. Their
size is chiefl y dependent on the size and age of the specimen. These scales are
worn down to give a textured surface of rounded pale protrusions, between which
the dye shows when the skin is coloured from the other side ( http://www.edtanner.co.uk/leather-facts/ ).
According to Margot Brunn, Conservator Provincial Museum of Alberta,
Canada, “shagreen is prepared by scraping, stretching and drying. It is not a true
leather but a rawhide (Fig. 6.5 ). It is processed into a usable material by grinding,
fi ling and polishing the surface denticles in order to fl atten their sharp points. The
skin may also have been dyed, or have pearly white denticles interspaced with black
varnish. A chemical process to decalcify and soften placoid scales for producing
commercially tanned leather did not exist prior to the 1920s. Black fi ller in-between
closely spaced denticles is common, as are natural, light-coloured skins with
ground-down spikes, e.g., from the stingray. Copper salts and other dyes were used
for contrasting denticles and skin tones in shades of green, red, brown and yellow,”
(Brunn 2001 ).
It is suggested that Europe began importing shagreen-covered tools since the
seventeenth century. Jean-Claude Galluchat (d. 1774) was the fi rst famous tanner
and shagreen expert in Paris in eighteenth century. As reported in “A brief history of
the Shagreen (Stingray skin)” ( http://www.fauxshagreenfurniture.net/en/news/
a-brief-history-of-the-shagreen-stingray-skin.html ): “His name has been transformed
6.2 Shagreen
containing calcifi ed formations, respectively. After patents by Erkel ( 1940 ) and
Rose ( 1953 ), Biery and Simmons ( 1955 ) patented the process for preparing leather
from teleost fi shskins (Fig. 6.4 ). There are also more recent patents published. In the
of making fi sh skin leather method patented by Chen ( 2006 ), a fi sh skin with fi sh
scales thereon is washed, cleaned, and tanned. Then, the fi sh scales are removed
from the tanned fi sh skin to expose a plurality of ridges underlying the fi sh scales
and presenting fi sh skin grains. The resultant fi sh skin leather has a skin substrate
surface with fi sh skin grains that include a plurality of ridges which project from the
surface of the skin substrate. I suggest that the methodological principles for fi sh
skin treatment described in the documents listed above, can be used in the modern
laboratories for experimental works of fi sh skin properties and modifi cation like
mineralization and metallization in vitro.
6.2 Shagreen
It cannot be ruled out that ray skin has been used in ancient Egypt, and during the
Chinese Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220). Later, during feudal times, Japanese
samurai crafted their sword handles with biomaterial obtained from shark or ray
skin named shagreen . It was known as material with incredible sturdiness.
The properties of fi sh skin as source suitable to manufacture shagreen is described
as follow:
Sharks and skates skins are usually covered with hard calcifi ed placoid scales. Their
size is chiefl y dependent on the size and age of the specimen. These scales are
worn down to give a textured surface of rounded pale protrusions, between which
the dye shows when the skin is coloured from the other side ( http://www.edtanner.co.uk/leather-facts/ ).
According to Margot Brunn, Conservator Provincial Museum of Alberta,
Canada, “shagreen is prepared by scraping, stretching and drying. It is not a true
leather but a rawhide (Fig. 6.5 ). It is processed into a usable material by grinding,
fi ling and polishing the surface denticles in order to fl atten their sharp points. The
skin may also have been dyed, or have pearly white denticles interspaced with black
varnish. A chemical process to decalcify and soften placoid scales for producing
commercially tanned leather did not exist prior to the 1920s. Black fi ller in-between
closely spaced denticles is common, as are natural, light-coloured skins with
ground-down spikes, e.g., from the stingray. Copper salts and other dyes were used
for contrasting denticles and skin tones in shades of green, red, brown and yellow,”
(Brunn 2001 ).
It is suggested that Europe began importing shagreen-covered tools since the
seventeenth century. Jean-Claude Galluchat (d. 1774) was the fi rst famous tanner
and shagreen expert in Paris in eighteenth century. As reported in “A brief history of
the Shagreen (Stingray skin)” ( http://www.fauxshagreenfurniture.net/en/news/
a-brief-history-of-the-shagreen-stingray-skin.html ): “His name has been transformed
6.2 Shagreen