| When you think about high quality leather furniture | | | | Leather that brings together European and |
| what might come to mind are European furniture | | | | American designers to create furniture that |
| manufactures who have had centuries of | | | | offers some of the finest detail, style and design. |
| experience in working with tanning leather hides | | | | If you look at the offerings of typical furniture |
| and building solid hardwood frame furnishings. | | | | manufacturers who offer leather, you'll often find |
| European colonists brought many of those | | | | a dozen or so colors available in a single grade of |
| furniture building techniques handed down through | | | | leather. This manufacturer, Omnia Leather offers |
| the ages to America in the 1700's and those | | | | 20 different grades of leather with over 250 |
| techniques and traditions still continue here today. | | | | specific colors throughout the various grades of |
| Technology has advanced much in the last 300 | | | | leather. Omnia sources many of these hides from |
| years and many modern manufacturing advances | | | | the European Elmo Leather AB Tannery. It is one |
| and innovations have been introduced into the | | | | of the oldest and largest tanneries in Europe |
| process of building a piece a furniture and in the | | | | located in Svenljunga in western Sweden. These |
| tanning of leather but the artistry and | | | | hides are shipped to California where they are cut |
| craftsmanship that goes into each piece still | | | | and upholstered onto American made frames. |
| continues. In this article we'll look at American | | | | This Brings together European and American |
| leather furniture manufacturing, European leather | | | | materials and construction. |
| hides and the role these tanneries still play today | | | | Located in Dallas, Texas is another American |
| in American made furniture. | | | | leather furniture manufacturer appropriately called |
| European tanneries have existed since ancient | | | | American Leather. This manufacturer just like |
| history. Tanning by ancient methods would be | | | | Omnia also offers a wide array of specialty |
| considered quite crude by modern standards | | | | leathers in their own grades of nubuck, natural, |
| today, however these methods were very | | | | waxed and protected. American Leather sources |
| effective in processing hides and tanning them for | | | | many of their hides from the Elmo Tannery in |
| use. Ancient tanneries were often found on the | | | | Sweden providing European grade leather that is |
| outskirts of town. Uses for these leather hides | | | | then applied to the kiln dried hardwood frames |
| during those times included water skins, | | | | manufactured by American Leather. This |
| harnesses, boots, sandals as well as bags and | | | | company is also well known for a successful line |
| armor. The process of tanning has evolved much | | | | of sleepers called Comfort Sleepers which are |
| over the centuries and leather hides are imported | | | | offered in real twin, full, queen, queen plus and |
| from European tanneries to American furniture | | | | king sizes. The company was founded in 1991 and |
| manufacturers to be used many varieties of | | | | continues to specialize in custom leather furniture. |
| furniture. | | | | Leather exhibits natural characteristics that make |
| What makes leather furniture so sought after is | | | | each piece unique. Today, the combination of old |
| that it exhibits natural characteristics in every hide | | | | world European leather tanning and modern |
| which makes each piece unique. It is this unique | | | | American manufacturing makes for a very high |
| surface texture of natural barb wire markings, | | | | end piece of furniture. American leather furniture |
| bite and stretch marks that give character to the | | | | manufacturing make use of quality construction |
| furniture that you won't find anywhere else. | | | | techniques and hardwood frames then combines |
| These features are most often retained in the | | | | these with high quality leather hides from top |
| higher grades of leather which offer the soft, | | | | European tanneries to create furniture built to last. |
| supple feel that is buttery and smooth to the | | | | If you've been hesitant to shop leather because |
| touch. These characteristics are much enjoyed in | | | | of quality, consider American leather furniture |
| leather furniture and often only found in leather | | | | manufacturers who are committed to using the |
| from the oldest tanneries. | | | | highest quality and materials available in the |
| In Chino, California is a manufacturer called Omnia | | | | market. You'll be pleased with what you find. |