Leather is not manufactured: it grows. It’s a natural product. Artifort carefully selects leather skins for their quality and flawlessness. However, the natural characteristics of the skin may be visible in the leather. These emphasise the character of the leather. The natural features that can occur in leather are illustrated below.
Types of leather
(Full) aniline leather: (Saddle Leather)
This sort of leather is the closest to the natural form. Skin structures such as hair follicles, wrinkles and natural graining are clearly visible. The leather is dyed throughout and a transparent colour coating is applied to the grain side (the good side). However, this leather has no protective coating.
Semi aniline leather: (Elmosoft – chromium-free tanned)
This leather can be polished on the grain side, which equalises any damage to the skin. However, the grain, pores and skin structure are still visible. This leather is dyed throughout and usually has a pigment and protective coating on the grain side.
Full-colour painted leather: (Artifort Ox, Ohmann 1012) In the case of full-colour painted leather, markings on the grain side of the skin are eliminated with abrasive, equalising any unevenness. The leather is then dyed throughout in a colour that is as close as possible to the colour that will later be applied to the grain side, after which it is very lightly sanded. The good side is then imprinted with a grain effect and a full-colour paint coating is applied.
Care
In general, leather benefits from too little rather than too much care. Once major cleaning a year or every two years is enough! If you plan to treat your product, choose a care product car efully and read the instructions well. First test the product on a place that is not immediately visible. Apply the product with a moist cloth, wiping gently over the leather in large circles.
Clean your piece of furniture before you apply a nourishing or protective treatment. Allow the product time to penetrate the leather and leave the chair or sofa to dry for at least 6 hours. Keep a cotton cloth exclusively for cleaning your furniture so that cleaning agents and dirt cannot penetrate the leather. Direct, bright sunlight may harm the colour of the leather. Never place leather furniture in direct sunlight. It is important to keep the humidity level in the room at the correct level in order to keep the leather ‘fit’. Do not place the furniture too close to a stove or heat source. The leather will then dry out in places and may split or break. The wooden frame of the piece of furniture may also stretch and split.
Stains (solid substances)
The substance may be removed with a spoon, piece of cloth or white kitchen paper. Work towards the centre of the stain.
Stains (liquid)
Dab a stain immediately so that the liquid has no opportunity to penetrate the leather. If that has already happened, give the leather some time. A stain will usually sink into the leather in the course of time. Do not rub hard on the area as this will block the pores, leaving a shiny patch.
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