Carriage leather

Coach leather for upholstery and carriage covers

For centuries leather was used for the upholstery of carriage seats and it was a natural transition to make car leather seats. Since carriages were mostly open at the beginning, the seats were made of solid cowhide like horse saddles. With the leather cover and an under-cushion, the benches were softer than simple wooden benches. The leather was oiled and greased to make the leather water-repellent against humid conditions. The upholstery was an important comfort gain, since the suspension of the coaches didn't work well and roads were very bumpy.

Early carriage covers were often made of waxed canvas or sailcloth. However, later on, leather or leather coverings were also used, offering even better resistance to weather influences. Leather was able to repel moisture and protect the carriage occupants from rain, snow, or intense sunlight. Furthermore, due to its flexibility and durability, leather was well-suited to conform to the contours of the carriage covers and keep them taut. The leather was often specially treated to be water-repellent and resistant to external influences. This involved surface coloring, the application of fats, waxes, and other impregnating substances.

Coach with leather top from Berlin from 1905 (www.restauratiecentrum.nu) and twelve suspensions Phaeton carriage with leather top from approx. 1900 (www.restauratiecentrum.nu).

Antique coach with still functional leather top.

For the coach roofs, thick cowhide leather was used, which was only pigmented on the grain side.

Carriage roofing leather.

Nowadays carriages are hardly used, except as exhibits in museums, or for special occasions. Most of the carriages are used for tourism. Horse-drawn carriage rides are offered at tourist sites for smaller excursions. In such cases, the benches are mostly covered with artificial leather. This is cheaper than genuine leather.