Fish skin

Syrian fish skin drum
MFA 17.2023

Description

Fish skins and sharkskins provide a close texture, impervious surface that have been used as abrasives for polishing veneer (Kuhn 1986). In northern Pacific regions, fish skins were also used for clothing, footwear, and waterproof covers for windows, boats, and sleds (Kite 1999).

See also Salmon skin, and Shagreen.

Synonyms and Related Terms

pele de peixe (Port.)

Man's boots, Alaskan
MFA # 93.174

Comparisons

Properties of Common Abrasives (pdf)

Resources and Citations

• Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986

• M.Kite, "The Conservation of a 19th Century Salmon Skin Coat" in ICOM Preprints, Lyon, 1999. p.691-696.

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 332

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish (Accessed Nov. 2, 2005)