From our leather types section, one can realize that there is a direct relationship between natural and naked looks and the quality of hides required for them. The more natural, the better grades we need to use, and as a reflection of this most of the natural properties of the leathers will remain. On the contrary, for lower grade hides, more work and coverage is required to correct the imperfections and make them visually appropriate, which will result in a more artificial aspect and less softness.
These imperfections we are referring to are the trademark of leather as a natural product and, if not excessive, become one of the most attractive features of aniline and semi-aniline leathers. It is important to understand that these so-called imperfections will not mean any deterioration of the leather, and therefore the furniture, as long as they are not open, unhealed ones.

We are listing below the most common ones:

• Scratches: scars resulting from barbed wire, thorns, other animals horns.
• Insect bites: appearing as small pin holes in the case of flies, larger circular marks in the case of ticks, all of them vary in intensity and depth depending on the size of the bug and strength of the bite.
• Neck wrinkles: the skin in the neck area is full and loose creating these very characteristic wrinkles, allowing the steer to have flexibility to move its head while grazing.
• Veins: in some cases they are so pronounced that they are still visible in the hide surface after tanned and finished.
• Grain variation: as a result of age and the different fiber structure in different areas of a same hide or from hide to hide, the pattern changes are the hallmark of natural full grain leather.
• Brands: man-made for cattle identificion, very seldom found in furniture.
• Furrows, grain abrasion, natural contraction: resulting from slight grain deterioration due to age, graze, growth and other reasons. For example, furrows forming along the backbone.

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