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Provided
by animals, leather was man's first piece of clothing. In
the areas where people bred cattle and sheep a small industry
of leather making developed. Since the number of people
practising tannery and furrier's trade is on the fall, the
two operations are usually done by one person.
The procedure for tanning skins has remained unchanged since
the beginning of the twentieth century; most standards are
the same today, although fashion has changed, which makes
it hard for the artisans.
The barrels in which skins are tanned are made by local
people and are over one hundred years old.
Today's artisans are grateful to those who taught them the
secrets of the trade. As with any other trade, the aspiring
artisan has to go through several stages: apprentice ("sagart"
in dialecta language), journeyman ("calfa") and finally,
after many years, he is declared master ("maistor").
The acquisition of furs is done according to an ages-old
procedure. When people sacrifice an animal, they bring its
skin to the tanner, who tans and uses it. Many years may
pass until the client wants a fur coat, but the number of
skins is traceable in the books and the skins are even transferable
to children or grandchildren.
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