Creative Buckskin NZ
BUCKSKIN
History
Stone age peoples, cavemen, and hunter gatherers all over the world had some things in common. Soaking hides in brains and pulling them soft seems to be one of them. It was part of the daily life of primitive peoples on every continent. There are accounts of brain and/or smoke tanning by the Zulus of southern Africa (brains), the Chukchee of eastern Russia (liver, urine and smoke), nomadic peoples of Asia (fermented milk, butter, and egg yolk), northern Asia (brains, liver and sour milk,) China (smoke), South America (smoke) and North America (brains, smoke, liver, sweet corn, eggs, pine nuts, yucca root and a whole lot of other things!). One of the things I really like about buckskin is that if we could look back far enough, nearly every one of us would find some ancestor who lived their lives wearing this wonderful garment. Its something we have in common. Getting skins soft was undoubtedly one of the very first arts that ancient humans developed. Many a camp-fire has been spent wondering why or who first thought to put brains on a skin? and then stretch it dry.
"Oh the intuition of our forefathers and mothers".
When most people think of buckskin they envision long fringed Indians on horseback or adventurous frontiersmen on a remote mountain hunt. Little do they know that it was once as common as blue jeans. Did you know that it was the work clothes of the common labourer in 18th century America and Europe? That General George Washington ordered buckskins to be made for the troops? Or that it was fashionable among the elite of Europe? Remember those images of men in powder white wigs, breeches and long stockings. Guess what those breeches were made of... Have you ever told a friend, "uh, that cost me a couple of bucks". Well that's because buckskin was such a common commodity of exchange in the American colonies that after the Revolution, buck became the slang for a dollar bill.
Creative Buckskin NZ
This all came about by a want and a need for a genuine leather type product. Commercially made chrome tanned leather was just too bloody expensive and full of chemicals.
I modified the North American Indian process slightly to suit our conditions here in New Zealand.
The results have been truly stunning.
Climate variations, breeds of animals and their varying skin structures. Also the availability of good hides and brains, has been a challenge.
We are very fortunate here in New Zealand that we have access to hunting lots of these majestic animals.
Wapiti (Canadian Elk) - Although the Wapiti are not as large as their Canadian cousins. A adaptation to our climate and bush here in New Zealand.
Red Deer - These guys thrive in great numbers through out NZ. As well as being readily farmed.
Fallow Deer - These guys also thrive in great numbers through out NZ. As well as being readily farmed.
White Tail - Pockets of these within New Zealand. Have yet to convert one off these hides into buckskin.
Samba - One of the larger animals of the deer breeds here, can be alot of work to convert, well worth the effort.
Rusa - Pockets of these within New Zealand. Have yet to convert one off these hides into buckskin.
Goats - Being that these guys are alot smaller, the hides are easy to deal with and convert quite well into buckskin.
Thar - Being of the goat family their hides could also be converted to buckskin.
Chamois - Being of the antelope family their hides could also be converted to buckskin.
Cattle - If you feel up to a huge challenge then go for it.
Thanks to Deerskins into Buckskins - Matt Richards (www.braintan.com)
BUCKSKIN
History
Stone age peoples, cavemen, and hunter gatherers all over the world had some things in common. Soaking hides in brains and pulling them soft seems to be one of them. It was part of the daily life of primitive peoples on every continent. There are accounts of brain and/or smoke tanning by the Zulus of southern Africa (brains), the Chukchee of eastern Russia (liver, urine and smoke), nomadic peoples of Asia (fermented milk, butter, and egg yolk), northern Asia (brains, liver and sour milk,) China (smoke), South America (smoke) and North America (brains, smoke, liver, sweet corn, eggs, pine nuts, yucca root and a whole lot of other things!). One of the things I really like about buckskin is that if we could look back far enough, nearly every one of us would find some ancestor who lived their lives wearing this wonderful garment. Its something we have in common. Getting skins soft was undoubtedly one of the very first arts that ancient humans developed. Many a camp-fire has been spent wondering why or who first thought to put brains on a skin? and then stretch it dry.
"Oh the intuition of our forefathers and mothers".
When most people think of buckskin they envision long fringed Indians on horseback or adventurous frontiersmen on a remote mountain hunt. Little do they know that it was once as common as blue jeans. Did you know that it was the work clothes of the common labourer in 18th century America and Europe? That General George Washington ordered buckskins to be made for the troops? Or that it was fashionable among the elite of Europe? Remember those images of men in powder white wigs, breeches and long stockings. Guess what those breeches were made of... Have you ever told a friend, "uh, that cost me a couple of bucks". Well that's because buckskin was such a common commodity of exchange in the American colonies that after the Revolution, buck became the slang for a dollar bill.
Creative Buckskin NZ
This all came about by a want and a need for a genuine leather type product. Commercially made chrome tanned leather was just too bloody expensive and full of chemicals.
I modified the North American Indian process slightly to suit our conditions here in New Zealand.
The results have been truly stunning.
Climate variations, breeds of animals and their varying skin structures. Also the availability of good hides and brains, has been a challenge.
We are very fortunate here in New Zealand that we have access to hunting lots of these majestic animals.
Wapiti (Canadian Elk) - Although the Wapiti are not as large as their Canadian cousins. A adaptation to our climate and bush here in New Zealand.
Red Deer - These guys thrive in great numbers through out NZ. As well as being readily farmed.
Fallow Deer - These guys also thrive in great numbers through out NZ. As well as being readily farmed.
White Tail - Pockets of these within New Zealand. Have yet to convert one off these hides into buckskin.
Samba - One of the larger animals of the deer breeds here, can be alot of work to convert, well worth the effort.
Rusa - Pockets of these within New Zealand. Have yet to convert one off these hides into buckskin.
Goats - Being that these guys are alot smaller, the hides are easy to deal with and convert quite well into buckskin.
Thar - Being of the goat family their hides could also be converted to buckskin.
Chamois - Being of the antelope family their hides could also be converted to buckskin.
Cattle - If you feel up to a huge challenge then go for it.
Thanks to Deerskins into Buckskins - Matt Richards (www.braintan.com)