Barcelona Leather & the making of The Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona Chair cushions are made of leather. The original was made from pig skin, but today most are from cow leathers. Contemporary manufacturers have explored the length and breath of possibility in this regard, producing Barcelona style chairs of every conceivable type of leather - some with notably striking results.

Leather is a versatile and surprisingly diverse material. Leathers can vary tremendously: Consider that a raw hide can be thin or thick, supple or brittle, it can be scared or clean grained. Grain might be regular or irregular, deep or barely visible. And all of this variation exists even before the hide has been treated, scraped, dyed, printed, coated, cut and sewn.

The characteristics of the leather upholstery on your Barcelona Chair will to 18pt degree define the apparent quality of the whole item.

In selecting a leather an expert would look several characteristicsL A soft and supple 'hand': A technical term which really just means - how good it feels on your hand; and a texture that they like. However texture is really quite a subjective and therefor personal choice.

Top grain leather referrs to the epidermis of a hide. That top layer that is both the strongest, most durable and the most characteristic. To be used as a top grain leather, hides must have a pleasing regularity of appearance, without too many scars. All high quality manufacturers of leather upholstery will use a top grain leather. Top grain leathers are technically those, that are not corrected (printed or stamped) and so the actual grain of the leather is intact.

Some like to see the natural depth of an unpigmented hide - and so would choose untreated Aniline dyed leathers; Others in search of another kind of 'natural' look, like distressed leathers. Distressed leathers are those that are new but are made to look old so that they have a pleasing patina. Patina is the desirable and natural aging effect or breaking-in of the leather that deepens its color and softness. It also highlights the natural grain of the leather. Patina happens most noticeably in aniline and waxed aniline leathers.

Knoll uses an untreated, top grain leather for its Barcelona Chairs. These hides are very high quality, having few natural imperfections, and as such can be used untreated, (without layers of pigment or clear coat protection). The difficulty with untreated leathers is that they fade easily, (more so than those with pigmented protective layers) and being quite porous they stain very easily.

Some prefer a more durable leather, one with a pigment and clear protecting coating. These can be almost invisible to the eye, but do feel slightly different to the hand.

Those in search of a less expensive variation might choose a corrected leather. Corrected leathers are slightly lower quality in terms of regularity of grain and markings, and as such are slightly 'exfoliated' to remove the very top layer of the epidermis. they are then mechanically embosed with the grain pattern, before being treated with pigment and protective coating. These are sometimes still referred to as top grain leathers, although this term is innacurate as some of the 'top grain' has in fact been removed.

And still others - looking for something a little unusual might be inclined towards Specialty leathers . Specialty leathers are from hides other than the cow. For example: Ostrich, crocodile, aligator, snake or pig. However cow leather embossed (stamped) and /or pigmented to simulate the distictive patterning of other animal hides - is also regarded as specialty leather.

Or perhaps a little more subtle, but still unusual, one might want Nubuck or Buffed leathers . Nubuck or Buffed leathers are pure aniline hides which are buff brushed (sanded) for a slight nap effect. Not to be confused with suedes, Nubucks are top grain leathers and are much more serviceable and durable than suedes. Nubuck leathers are known for their sensuous appearance and soft feel, similar to velvet. The buffing removes the epidermis or hair cell layer making the leather soft but also vulnerable to spills and stains. This leather is best suited for accent pieces or living rooms where care is taken to preserve the leather. People with dogs and kids take note.

Some More Terms

Aniline dyes - Aniline dyes are used quite commonly, on all types of leather. These chromium based dies are heated to ensure better penetration into the leather, and to help the dye bond to the cellular structure of the hide.

Aniline leathers - Aniline leathers are those top grain leathers colored solely by aniline dyes. These transparent dyes preserve the subtle depth of translucence in the leather. Used without surface treatments of pigment and protective coating, aniline dyed leathers are the most natural and 'naked' and are therefore favored by leather lovers and purists the world over. No two aniline leathers are identical; each hide has its own characteristics. Aniline leathers are highly prized both for their luxurious softness and rich color. Because Aniline dyes do not coat the surface of the leather, they do leave it somewhat less protected than other dyes and treatments, As a result Aniline leathers are very vulnerable to spills and stains.

Semi-Aniline leathers - Semi-Aniline leathers are also colored by aniline dyes. As such they are also noted for their natural grain and softness. However semi-aniline leathers are treated with a clear sealant topcoat which has a slight sheen. This protective layer is thin enough that it does not obscure the grain, but serves to afford additional protection and color consistency. Semi-anilines are sometimes considered to be the best choice as they offer some degree of protection while still retaining the softness and natural character and beauty of the leather.

Corrected leather or Embossed leather - Corrected leather or Embossed leather has been stamped to apply an even texture, simulating the grain of leather, but without the naturally uneven markings of uncorrected leathers (removes wrinkles, bites and scars). This allows leathers with too many markings to be corrected, making them more saleable, and also addresses a growing market for uniformity and consistency. Corrected leathers are often but not always lower in price than uncorrected leathers.

Leather/Vinyl Combination - Leather/Vinyl Combination is a frame that combines a protected leather on the seat, back cushion and arms, with a matched vinyl on the back and sides for a sometimes significant price reduction. This allows for a genuine leather feel where you tend to come in contact with the chair or sofa. The matching of the vinyl has been greatly refined over the years, so that today they are extremely accurate - to the extent that differences are difficult to discern at all. Furthermore the strength of vinyl makes furniture more durable than ever.

Top-grain leather- Top-grain leather is the top layer of the hide. Top grains are the highest quality, most expensive and the strongest / most durable.

Waxed Anilines - Waxed Anilines are when waxes and oils are applied over aniline dyed leather for a rugged look. Waxed anilines patina beautifully and the wax adds a higher degree of protection than found in a pure aniline leather. Waxed leathers and Oil pull-up leathers often accumulate surface scuff marks that can be taken out, but are not recommended for people who are bothered by these marks.

Protected leathers or Pigmented leathers - Protected leathers or Pigmented leathers are aniline dyed hides that have a pigmented topcoat. The topcoat increases the leather's durability and color consistency, but also increases the stiffness very slightly. People who like their leather furniture uniform and perfect as well as people who want more protection will enjoy this type of leather.