The Leather Conservation Centre undertakes practical conservation, training, research and analysis and consultancy work, and produces a number of publications on all aspects of leather conservation
The Leather Conservation Centre, in partnership with the University of Northampton, has recently appointed Anne Lama as a KTP Research Associate to research, design and implement a new generation of conservation material(s) to consolidate leather and combat red rot (acidic degradation of leather).
A KTP is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership and is partially funded by the Government.
Anne Lama has an MSc in Leather Technology and will be submitting her PhD thesis in November (entitled ‘The Impact of the Leather Manufacturing Process on Bacterial Growth in Tannery Effluent’).
As part of her research Anne wants to talk to and visit conservators, archivists, librarians, bookbinders and anyone else who deals with leather, and therefore may come across red rot.
If you would be interested in helping with this project please contact Anne Lama by email at lcc@northampton.ac.uk
We are also looking for samples of old leather, with or without red rot, on which to carry out various tests. If you are able to supply any discarded leather, even small pieces, we would be very pleased to have them to assist with this research.
