Tanner

A tanner is a craftsman who converts animal hides into leather, a material used for clothing, footwear, upholstery, and industrial goods. The occupation's name comes from the process of tanning, which stabilizes collagen in hides using tannins from plant sources or chemical tanning agents to produce durable, water-resistant material.

Tanning is an ancient craft with evidence from early civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and across Asia and Europe. Traditional methods relied on tannins extracted from tree bark and other plant materials, yielding vegetable-tanned leather that ages to a distinctive patina. In the 19th century, chrome tanning, using chromium salts, emerged and rapidly supplanted many plant-based processes because of faster processing and softer, more flexible leather.

The process involves several steps: hides are preserved and cleaned, then prepared by liming and dehairing, fleshing, and sometimes bating. Depending on the method, hides are treated with plant tannins or chromium salts to convert collagen into leather. After tanning, the hides are dried, dyed, and finished to achieve the desired color and surface characteristics. Vegetable-tanned leather tends to be firmer and takes longer to tan, while chrome-tanned leather is softer and more breathable.

Types of leather by tanning include vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned, aldehyde-tanned, and oil-tanned. Each type has different properties and uses. The industry faces environmental and worker-safety concerns related to chemical use and waste management, prompting regulations and efforts toward more sustainable practices and alternative methods.

Tanner is also a surname and a historical occupational term for someone who worked in tanneries.