Page 20 - May2008

May 2008 THE NATIONAL 13u'T'Ton BULLETIN 73

Stamped and Tooled buttons. The design of the center cat button was
achieved using various metal hand tools to stamp the design, which was
then painted. At right: A typical set of hand tools.
o Pyrography - A design burned into leather
with a heat tool (also known as "Branding").
o Stamped - Shallow depression or outline
design made with a variety of stamps.
Faux animal texture stamping is common.
Note: faux alligator may in fact be stamped
cowhide. Careful examination usually reveals
stamping vs. true species skins. When judging
a leather award, it's appropriate to give benefit
of the doubt on some identified types that
could be stamped faux graining.
Faux animal texture stamping and graining:
o Stitched/laced - Addition of decorative
stitching or lacing by machine or hand.
o Tooled - Outline or other design made
with various machine or hand tools. May
be shallow or deep.

Pierced & grommeted Embossed
RECOGNIZING LEATHER (aluminum rim)
6 FUR IMITATIONS

Faux leather - Think Pleather pants! Magnification will usually show the pattern
of the woven backing through the finish. Printed plastic clad fabrics mimicking
snake skins are common. Oilcloth can also be made to imitate leather.
Fake fur or "faux fur" - a synthetic material mimicking real fur. Fake fur can be
spotted by parting the fibers to check for a woven fabric backing. If strands are
burned and the fibers melt, it is a synthetic. Fake fur is not in the Leather class; it
is appropriate in Section 5 Fabric/Textiles.