At JoverValls, we work with different leathers and tanning techniques to adapt to each use: from vegetable-tanned leathers, which retain a more natural and artisanal aesthetic, to chrome-tanned leathers, designed for specific applications where certain features and finishes are prioritized.
Each leather responds differently to the passage of time, light, and use. That's why we don't see it merely as a covering, but as an essential part of the design and the furniture experience.
Vegetable Tanning
Vegetable tanning is a traditional artisanal technique that transforms leather into a resistant, flexible, and characterful material. It is a chrome-free process in which the leather is treated with tannins and plant extracts from natural materials such as bark, seeds, or wood.
This type of tanning gives the leather a particularly warm aesthetic, with a lively surface and a beautiful aging process. Over time, the leather acquires its own nuances and a natural patina that further enriches its appearance.
In our case, vegetable tanning is linked to a tradition of artisanal work that is preserved in very few areas of Europe, which reinforces the value of this material both for its process and for its final result.
The leathers are processed in different stages:
- cleaning of the leather,
- removal of salt and preservation residues,
- tanning,
- dyeing with natural pigments,
- drying in ventilated interiors,
- and manual finishing.
The result is a noble, natural, and elegant-looking leather, designed to last and improve with use.
Chrome Tanning
Chrome tanning revolutionized the leather industry in the mid-19th century. Before its appearance, hide transformation was a slow and limited process. The discovery of chemist Friedrich Knapp in 1858, who introduced chromium salts into the process, marked the beginning of the modern era of industrial leather, allowing for a raw material with stability and thermal resistance that were previously unattainable.
What truly attracts us to this technique is its ability to "free" leather from the limitations of the vegetable tanning process. By tanning with mineral salts, the leather fiber acquires superior resilience against moisture, heat, and constant friction. This process is carried out in cylindrical wooden drums over 4 meters high, where, after an initial cleaning and preparation phase, the chromium penetrates deep into the dermal structure, fixing permanently. Subsequently, the leather undergoes re-tanning and fatliquoring processes, where it is nourished with oils and pigmented to achieve that deep, uniform color that maintains its intensity unalterable despite the passage of time and intense use.
At JoverValls, we value this system because it transforms leather into a technically
impeccable material, capable of maintaining its flexibility and tactile softness even under demanding use conditions.
Cowhide leather
Bovine leather from European cattle, carefully selected for its quality, resistance, and uniformity. This material is obtained from hides from the food industry, which allows giving a second life to a valuable natural resource.
The animals are raised in fenced pastures, under controlled conditions, which helps to achieve more homogeneous and better-looking leathers. Nevertheless, as it is a natural material, small marks, scars, or variations inherent to the animal may appear, which should not be understood as defects but as part of its authenticity.
Three main areas can be distinguished in the leather:
- The flanks, located in the abdominal part, smaller in size and with a higher probability of marks.
- The neck, where natural wrinkles of the animal can be seen.
- The croupon, corresponding to the back part, the largest area, with the best quality, and the fewest marks.
At JoverValls furniture, the croupon is mainly used, as it is the noblest part of the leather, the most uniform, and the most suitable to guarantee the quality and size necessary for each piece.
JoverValls vegetable-tanned leather has a minimum thickness of 3.5 mm, which places it among the thickest on the market. This gives it great robustness, an excellent visual presence, and outstanding durability.
The top layer of the leather, called the grain, is of the best quality. When worked deeper, lower layers such as split leather can be obtained, which are less resistant and of lower quality. In our case, the selection of leathers aims precisely to preserve the noblest layer of the material.
The final finishing is done manually: the leathers are sanded, painted, and polished to the corresponding color tone, paying special attention to the edges and the aesthetic uniformity of the whole.
Leather samples
Cognac
Natural Tobacco
Dark Brown
Black
Navy Blue
Burgundy
Olive Green
Leather Swatches - Petit Collection
Cognac
Natural Tobacco
Dark Brown
Black
Navy Blue
Burgundy
Dusty Olive
Desert Rose
Stone Gray
Misty Blue
Terracotta
Leather for flooring
Heavy-duty bovine leather, processed using chrome tanning to ensure exceptional durability in high-traffic environments. Unlike leathers intended for furniture, this leather is developed to offer a firm physical structure and a surface capable of withstanding daily friction, always maintaining its aesthetic integrity and functionality.
The selection of this material responds to a specific technical need: the floor requires a leather that is not only visually appealing but also undeniably durable. This type of mineral tanning provides it with dimensional stability that prevents deformations, ensuring that the pieces sit perfectly and retain their characteristic warmth.
Available shades:
Tobacco
Black
Tiffany
Leather for Toe Caps
5/6 mm thick cowhide, used in the chair toe caps. Its thickness gives it a great material presence, firmness and resistance, qualities especially suitable for this particular piece.
As it is a visible and functional component at the same time, the toe cap leather not only fulfills a technical mission, but also an aesthetic one. It adds forcefulness to the design and reinforces the feeling of quality and solidity of the whole.
Parchment Skin
Parchment leather represents one of the most ancient and sophisticated techniques in the treatment of leather applied to furniture. Unlike traditional leathers, parchment undergoes a precise mineral tanning process that preserves its natural fibers, providing a characteristic rigidity, a translucent surface, and a firm touch not found in other finishes.
Given its structure, parchment stands out for its structural elegance and longevity, making it a preferred choice for design pieces where form and texture must remain unaltered over time. Each of our parchment pieces retains the natural veins and nuances of the leather, offering a subtly satin finish and a patina that beautifies with age.
In our workshops, we apply parchment by hand, stretching the leather over the furniture structure to take advantage of its natural contracting ability. This process requires exceptional technical skill, ensuring that each covering is a unique piece with its own personality, reflecting its natural origin and work carried out with rigor and meticulousness.
Leather Care
Leather is a living material. Its appearance changes with use, light, and the passage of time, and therein lies part of its beauty. Direct exposure to sunlight can darken its tone and slightly modify its appearance, which is part of its natural evolution.
At JoverValls, we believe these changes enrich the furniture and give it an increasingly unique personality. Nevertheless, to keep the leather soft, resistant, and responsive to stains, we recommend applying specific leather grease twice a year.
Leather grease usually contains beeswax, which helps repel moisture and stains more effectively. If you use any maintenance product, make sure it does not contain solvents or silicone, as these could damage the leather.
For daily cleaning, we recommend:
- using a soft cotton cloth,
- lightly moistening it with a solution of cold water and 3% neutral wool detergent,
- cleaning gently,
- and then using another clean cloth lightly moistened with cold water to remove any detergent residue.
Untreated leather is especially sensitive to dirt and scratches, so it is advisable to avoid aggressive products and unnecessary friction.
If the customer wishes to replace damaged leather or change it for a different color, they can always send us a private inquiry.