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Ancient Ways of Waterproofing Leather

If you've ever worn a leather belt or coat, you've continued a tradition as old as civilization itself. Leather making one of the oldest of crafts, developed out of necessity when humans began wearing animal skins. If left untreated, skins absorb water and rot, so people had to develop preservation and waterproofing methods. They did so in a variety of fascinating ways, though not all are palatable to modern sensibilities.

Fat Tanning
- Fat tanning is the oldest method of waterproofing skins and turning them into leather. Ancient Asserian texts, as well as Homer's Iliad, mention this method. Ancients would rub animal fat into skins, stretching them to help the fat incorporate into the hide. The resulting leather resisted moisture and rot because oil and water do not mix.
Brain Tanning
- Brain tanning is another common method of turning skins or hides into water-resistant leather. Used by ancient Native Americans, brain tanning involves soaking cleaned skins in a mixture of water and the animal's own brain. Though this may seem disgusting, brains contain both emulsifying fats and softening agents that help preserve the finished leather.
Smoking
- Smoking was another common method ancient peoples used to tan and waterproof leather. Most likely discovered by accident, hides were exposed to smoke, a preservative and drying agent. This helped protect the finished product against moisture and rot. Often used in conjunction with methods like brain tanning, smoking wasn't absolutely necessary but did give the hides additional softness and an appealing brown color.
Warning
- In recent years, popular interest in traditional methods of leather making has grown. If you want to try these techniques, learn from a reputable, experienced leather maker or tanner. Hides and brains, like all raw animal products, can make you sick if ingested. Wash your hands both before and after working with these. Also, officials with the New Mexico State University cooperative extension recommend using extreme caution when using any chemical tanning agents. If not used according to manufacturer instructions, these can be dangerous.

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