From soccer balls to baby carriers, leather is everywhere
Stefan Dege / adJuly 5, 2016
While the Euro 2016 players are kicking around a leather ball, the German Leather Museum presents a cultural history of the material. From Ancient Egyptian graves to Viennese Art Nouveau, leather has been all around us.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
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A short history of leather
While the European Football Championship is underway, the German Leather Museum is presenting a cultural history of the material with a special exhibition.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Tales of a leather ball
Each object tells its own story. Soccer balls made of leather are sewn together and the darker areas around the stitches are particularly telling. These balls have obviously been kicked around quite a long many years ago. This ball, made in 1920, is the focal point of the special exhibition at the German Leather Museum in Offenbach.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Ancient Egyptian burial wreath
The show describes the course taken by leather in a fictitious cycle of human life around the globe, and across history. Starting from birth, first love and marriage, and continuing on to education, profession and hobbies all the way to old age and death, the various exhibits represent human stages of life. Pictured is an Egyptian burial wreath dated from the first to third century AD.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Toy for a king
This highly detailed toy elephant once belonged to the late King Ludwig XV. It had been part of a previous exhibition, but has now been carefully restored and displayed on its own.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
A child's puppet
Leather was also put to use by the Lakotas, a Sioux tribe in the Great Plains region of North American. This leather puppet was created in 1870 and is another significant piece presented by the German Leather Museum.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Safe and snug
This baby carrier also originated in North America, where it was used by the Omaha, a Native American tribe in the Midwest. It was made of leather in 1870.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Leather wedding shoes
Meant to be worn for a wedding, these carefully made leather shoes date back to the late 19th-century Vienna. They represent the Art Nouveau style that was common at that time.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Museum dedicated to leather
The German Leather Museum holds more than 30,000 leather objects, which makes it Germany's largest and oldest museum dedicated to the material. The special exhibition "Leather - Companions for Life" will run until the end of 2016.
Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
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"No matter whether it rains or snows, or there's a storm, we're ready, we're ready. We'll shoot one goal more than you. We'll win anyways, everyone knows, since our friend is made of leather," sang German indie rock band Sportfreunde Stiller.
While leather-praising songs are not part of the exhibition currently showing at the German Leather Museum in Offenbach, it does include all kinds of historical objects made of the stuff.
"The biggest advantage of leather is its longevity, and in our fast moving times, this aspect is particularly important," explains curator Inez Florschütz.
The historian, who manages the museum's more than 30,000 leather objects, has selected pieces for a special exhibition that runs from July 3 through the end of the year. It's all about leather and how it accompanies people throughout their lives.
"Leather objects can illustrate all life situations, starting from birth all the way to death," she sums up.
Heavy duty, flexible - and preferably round
On show in Offenbach are Native American baby carrier, and Ancient Egyptian burial wreath, a leather toy elephant once belonging to the French royal house, and leather-embellished writing utensils once belonging to a 19th-century doctor. All kinds of bags, shoes and toys from various eras and regions can also be viewed.
Indispensible to the exhibition is, of course, the soccer ball. The example pictured above is nearly 100 years old and long out of service.
The German Leather Museum in Offfenbach will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2017Image: Deutsches Ledermuseum/Corinna Perl-Appl
Leather can be used in many different ways, and it is a sturdy and durable material. These qualities add to the particular advantages of leather, says the curator: "And people are fascinated by leather as it is a natural and haptic material."
