Leatherette
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Description
Originally a trademark (1875) for an imitation leather paper made felted paper sheets that were pressed, embossed, and glazed to give the appearance of natural Leather. Leatherette was patented by Harrington & Co in London. The early Leatherette was sold as a substitute for leather and was readily used for book covers and wall covering. Now leatherette is a generic term for Imitation leather and is made from both paper and cloth. It is generally embossed then given a shiny coating with Shellac, Vinyl, Cellulose nitrate, Cellulose acetate, Rubber, or Beeswax.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Bohemian lace; encaje leavers (Esp.); Leaver's kant (Ned);
Similar products: Powell’s pelt; Leathercloth; Leatherine
Resources and Citations
- Robert Kanigel, FauxReal: Genuine Leather and 200 years of Inspired Fakes', University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 2007.
- Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
- The Dictionary of Paper, American Paper Institute, New York, Fourth Edition, 1980
- E.J.LaBarre, Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Paper and Paper-making, Swets & Zeitlinger, Amsterdam, 1969