Vellum Cases

Posted by SMASH in Current Inventory

Putty, offwhite, mother of pearl, cream, ecru, you get it. This colour of case was made by many manufacturers as early as 1900. The cases themselves are called vellum, were made many ways, synthetically and with leather. Typically leather, they would be made through a process called tanning. To tan a case, they would strip the internal and external layers leaving the ‘derma.’ This is what these cases were made of. This process was popular before treatment/processing technology for leather came about, and was used. The derma would then be stretched onto a wood casing, typically pine, however basswood, oak and others were used.

These cases are from a series called Hartmann Skymates. Hartmann Company, founded in Milwaukee in 1877, is a manufacturer of cutting edge luxurious cases. They started right when the railroads were down and traveling via train was accessible for the public. They turned their hand into fashion oriented pieces for fashionable travelers, and then onto handbags which can be bought at locations such as Bloomingdales.