SEALSKINS. How They are Made Up so Attractively—Popular Errors.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 130, 26 February 1887, Page 2

SEALSKINS. How They are Made Up so Attractively—Popular Errors.

There is a popular notion that the sealskin as we see it at the furrier's is just as it is taken off the animal. Nothing, however, could be more contrary to fact. Few skins are leas attractive than this at first, as the fur is completely covered and hidden by a dull grey brown and grizzled overhair. This mask has then to be removed, and thib is an operation requiring a very great amount of patience and skill, with a consequent increase in price. The unhairing ia effected by warmth and moisture, which softens tho roots of the over-hair and enables it to be pulled out, or by shaving the inner side v«?ry thin, which cuts oft the roote oi the hair which penetrate deeply, and leaves untouched those of the fur, which are very superficial. Whichever method is employed, the hair must be taken off uniformly or the fur will never lie smoothly, but always have a rumpled look, which can never be corrected by any subsequent treatment. This will explain to some extent the cau?e of the high price of sealskin jacket Hand cloaks, and also the cause of the different prices one hears of, as a goo i many skins are more or less spoiled in the dressing. Another cause, too, is the quality of the dye, and the workmanship employed in its uee. The liquid colour is put on with a brush, and the points of the standing fur carefully covored ; thaekin is then rolled up fur inside, and then, after a little- time, hung up and driod. The dry dye ie then removed and a further coat applied, dried, removed, and so on, till the requisite shade i" obtained. One or two of these coats are laid on thick and pressed down to the roots of the fur, making what is called the ground. Prom eight to twe've coats are needed to produce a good colour. No wonder a firstcla,PS sealekin is expensive ; it ia just aa true now as ever ifc was ; but in these days of universal cheap Dees one is apt to forget that, if you want a really good thing, you must pay a good price.