The reproduction of the famous Russian Reindeer Birch calf leather has quite a unique history. On December 10th, 1786, the Metta Catharina set sail from the Russian port of St. Petersburg bound for the Mediterranean Sea with precious hemp and leather. On its voyage, the Catharina was caught in an intense storm and was forced to shelter in the Plymouth Sound. While the crew was able to safely reach shore, the storm broke the Catharina from its anchor and was lost at sea. Nearly two centuries later, divers were able to track and locate the ship along with its cargo scattered on the seafloor. Remarkably, the leather hides were perfectly preserved despite being underwater for nearly 200 years. After discovering these hides they were highly sought after for some of the most expensive leather goods and have since been a part of the lore.

With careful research, the tannery has been able to reproduce the hides in the same tanning process using Willow Bark and curing with Birch oil. This process gives the leather a unique smoke smell. This leather can bloom as the wax ages, the white layer can be worked back into the leather with a horsehair brush. This leather is a part of eastern lore and is a great way to add a cool background story to your projects.

THICKNESS