The Murphy - Metta Catharina Culatta (Cognac)
From the tannery:
Introducing the Metta Catharina Culatta - vegetable tanned horse rump leather, a leather steeped in history.
Digging into the intriguing tale of Metta Catharina ship a few years ago, we embarked on a quest to uncover the secrets of the leather associated with the old recipies. After delving into century-old books, we extracted ancient tanning methods and experimented extensively. The result? A partial recreation of this lost treasure. Our Metta Catharina Culatta isn't an exact replica but embodies key tanning elements: specific tannins, animal fats, natural oils, and crucially, natural wood tars. This imparts a resilient, smoky aroma and robust protection against pests and bacteria.
Crafted differently from our standard products, this culatta boasts a unique tanning process, materials, and finishing touches. It exudes an authentic "old-world" feel, thanks to its distinctive aroma and high oil and fat content, offering a soft, yet dense and supple texture. In a groundbreaking collaboration, we partnered with Conceria Il Ponte, a tannery adorned with gold from LWG audits and a leader in the Consortium Pelle Conciata al Vegetale in Toscana.
The story of the Metta Catharina from *identityleathercraft.com:
On December 10th 1786 a storm forced the Metta Catharina to seek shelter in Plymouth Sound. She had been bound for the Mediterranean with a cargo of hemp and leather from the Russian Port of St. Petersburg. The crew were able to get ashore but the ship and its cargo were lost - until almost 200 years later divers found a ship’s bell on the sea floor.
Further investigation revealed bundles of hides littering the sea bed. They were remarkably well preserved after two centuries of immersion in black mud.
Since those hides were retrieved, many hundreds have been brought to the surface. They have been tanned the traditional Russian way, which involves soaking in pits of willow bark and currying with birch oil. The process gives them a very distinct aroma. Most of the hides have been cross hatched in the grain embossed by hand.
The famous ‘Russia’ leather is renowned for it’s ability to resist water and repel insects.
*https://identityleathercraft.com/blogs/news/leather-stories-the-metta-catharina
