blackknightminiatures

Preview 𐍈 Baltic leather tanners in the forest outskirts

Added 2024-02-26 18:35:24 +0000 UTC

As hunting was a primary form of sustenance in the medieval Baltic region, tanning was a common profession: tanners were craftsmen skilled in preparing and treating animal skins, in turn providing them to cobblers, saddlers, and other artisans for making various items like footwear, garments, bags, and wineskins.

Though necessary, tanning was an unpleasant job. It involved quickly removing fat from the skin and preserving it to prevent decay, often done by soaking it in urine. Due to the unpleasant smells, tanners typically worked on the outskirts of towns, grouped with other marginalized professions.

To turn raw hide into usable material, the hide was soaked, cleaned, and treated to remove any remaining tissue and fur. Tanning methods varied, but typically involved the use of alum, fish oil, or tannins from tree bark. Throughout the process, the hide softened, resisted decay, and could be dyed. Finally, the hides were submerged in vats of urine for weeks, dried, and finished as needed.

This civilian pack will be available in the next few days with the new release! I plan on doing more civilians in the future, so I would like to know what you'd like to see!