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The Oak, Druids’ plant
Among all plants and trees, the Oak is perhaps the species that has left the deepest imprint in Western culture and collective imagination. It’s present in many ancient mythologies as a symbol of strength and justice, often associated with the divinities that embody...
The Chestnut Tree in Popular Culture: Traditions and Symbologies of the “Bread Tree”
"The Chestnut Trees at Osny", Camille Pisarro, 1873 The Chestnut is one of the most important natural raw materials used for the extraction of tannin. This tree is widespread among the hilly areas of Europe (covering over two million hectares), mainly in Italy and...
Tannins as animal feed supplements
The use of tannins as supplements for animal feed and more generally in zootechnics is a topic discussed and documented in the scientific-veterinary literature. For some years now interesting properties are known that allow the tannin to play a decisive role in the...
Wine therapy, a cure for the mind and body
The properties of wine related to the presence of tannins are now known and often at the center of Scientific Research. But did you know that since ancient times wine has been used in cosmetics? The Egyptian women knew its emollient and smoothing characteristics...
Prehistory and Tannin
The first encounter with our ancestors probably happened on the shore of a pond or in a cave. Men had started to hunt big animals with the help of spears and to use the skin of these killed preys to protect themselves against the cold.
Vegetable Tanning in Ancient History
The Sumerians were among the first populations to systematically tan skins, for which they used various methods (aldehydes, essential oils) and Galls Tannin.
The techniques of vegetable tanning were later perfected by the Babylonians, the Egyptians and the Persians, who used plant extracts both for tanning and for the dyeing of skins.
Tannin in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance
The Medieval and Renaissance tanneries continued the tradition of the tanning bath, meaning that the hides were immersed in a solution of tannin and water for weeks
At the Medici court, for example, it was required by law for the hides to be left in contact with tannin for at least 8 weeks, under penalty of 2 écus per hide.
Tannin and the Plants of the New World
As soon as they landed in the Americas, the Europeans discovered the existence of new plant species, some of which will prove to be particularly suitable for tannin extraction.
1796: the Birth of the Term “Tannin”
The Eighteenth century sees the birth of a new method of study of Nature, based on a systematic approach. These are the years of the encyclopedias, of a new relationship between Man and Nature.
The Industrial Revolution and the Invention of the Drum
The vegetable tanning bath is an artisan process that takes from 4 to 6 weeks. A length of time that did not meet the new production needs.
Tanneries started to feel the need for an innovation able to guarantee a quality product in a shorter time.
