Barrdale French Polishers have been replacing and repairing reproduction & antique desktop leathers since 1986 from the private client to local authorities. We have a full and extensive knowledge of skivers and hides. A skiver is lambskin leather and is supple and will accept embossed gold tooling very well.

It is absolutely the common choice for desktops, and has been for more than 100 years. The average size of a skiver is around 12-16 square feet. But for larger tops, joining skivers is perfectly normal also, and the tooling covers the joins so they are not so conspicuous. Hides are the skin of cattle. Hides are much larger than skivers, with an average size of 50 square feet. They are hard much more wearing than the skiver but, being tougher, they don’t accept gold tooling as good or as deeply as the skiver. Hides are usually used for larger jobs (such as large partners' desks) that require no joins. The choice is simple. Skiver is the first and most popular choice. It tools well, looks good and costs the least. The only reason for ordering a hide is if you have an exceptionally large desk, or your desk will be used and abused on a regular basis.

We have a wide variety of colours to choose from.

The examples below are actual cuts of leather, although shades may vary slightly depending upon the monitor on which they are viewed. If in doubt please ask for a sample.

Coral is currently unavailable.