When purchasing leather, you want to make sure that items that claim to be genuine leather are truly genuine. A cow’s hide is subject to varied markings of branding, scars, veins, wrinkles, and bites over time. Look for any of these natural markings on leather furniture to be sure that it is genuine:
Branding marks, which may be a letter, number, shape, or image, are usually one of the largest natural markings found on most every hide. If they add to the character of the leather, smooth band marks will often be placed on the outside backs or sides of leather furniture.
Cows’ blood vessels usually appear as marble-like veins on a hide. They are typically more prominent in older cows and are more visible in the neck and across the backbone. The veins can even reflect the cow’s climate; veins contract in cold weather to reduce heat loss through the skin and expand in warm weather to increase heat loss. Since veins are closer to the underside of the hide, they are commonly found in split leathers, the underside of top grain leather.
Thin surface scratches are part of the natural characteristic of leather. Healed scars can appear in any position on leather furniture as well.
Loose skin on the hide causes natural wrinkling, typically found in the neck, should, and belly areas. Mild creases may be found anywhere on the piece of furniture, but wrinkles and stretch marks are usually placed on the sides and back of the furniture.
Small circular marks or tiny holes may be found on a cow’s hide, left behind by mosquitos, ticks, flies, and parasites. The small, innocuous marks are a common occurrence on leather furniture.
Natural belly stretches and markings will appear as each hide takes on the characteristics of the cow it came from. The markings usually appear along the edges of the hide where the leather is loose and stretchy.
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