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*Please note that as of April 7th, all scholarships have been allocated for this course. If additional scholarships become available, we will reopen the scholarship form!
Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw pelts into functional furs using very basic techniques and materials.
In this workshop, you will learn to produce an incredibly soft, beautiful and durable product from raw animal skin using one of humankind’s earliest tanning technologies! Utilizing materials readily available in the surrounding environment, we will walk through the steps of this transformation.
Over 2 full days this class will focus on tanning fox furs with a variety of fat tanning which uses Lecithin and oil* as the dressing agent. Whilst not for the squeamish the end product is worth the work! The class will cover rehydrating dried furs, de-fleshing, dressing and softening the fur skins, as well as smoking them so they can be easily washed.
In addition to enthusiastic instruction, Theresa provides comfortable, easy to use tools and detailed handouts covering the tanning process, as well as ethnographic anecdotes and a list of helpful literature for those who wish to further their own knowledge of tanning!
Please join us for a course sure to contain plenty of memorable moments, lots of practical information and, if you put in the work**, one that will see you heading home with a beautiful, unique and usable traditionally tanned fur!
*Â The use of brains or egg yolks as an alternative dressing agent will be covered.
** Please be aware that a reasonable amount of fitness is required for this course. Instruction will be provided on good technique and timing with the skins, but you will need to be able to be on your feet and active for 6 to 8 hours per day. Any serious injuries need to be discussed with the faculty prior to booking onto the course please!
Max Participants: 12
Minimum: 6
Cost: $300 ($50 nonrefundable deposit to hold your spot)
Duration: 2 Days
Day 1: Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 – 9AM start time, Finish when we finish.
Day 2: Friday, May 3rd, 2024 – 10AM start time, 4-5 PM Course ends.
*There is a tuition discount if you register for both May 2024 courses, Fur Tanning and Pastel Making. Please register for them both separately, and your discount will be applied to your balance, to be billed in April.
About Theresa Emmerich Kamper
Theresa is an avid practitioner of traditional living skills and primitive technology of all kinds.
An interest which came in part from growing up in the Rocky Mountains in the USA, where
backpacking, hunting and fishing were part of the culture. She has followed this interest into
the academic field of Experimental Archaeology in which she holds a PhD from the
University of Exeter in the UK. Theresa has been tanning skins using traditional technologies
for over 30 years. Learning to tan was a natural offshoot of the attempt to use as much of the
animal as possible and had the added bonus of producing a beautiful end product. She
includes in her instruction a diverse range of information, from skin morphology to helpful
hints in dealing with the numerous and frustrating problems which are often encountered
when first learning to tan.
https://www.theresaemmerich.com/
Theresa Emmerich Kamper
Faculty Photo image credit: St. Fagans National Museum of History
