In Japan it is referred to as “Honzame”. In Europe it is refered to as “Shagreen”. The stingray skin has been utilized worldwide for centuries because of its beauty and durability. It is the most durable leather used on the planet. The inherent qualities of the Stingray skin make it so durable in fact, that it is resistant to water, fire, puncture, tearing, and abrasion. It is often referred to as “immortal” and jewel of the sea because of its durablity. Stingray leather will not burn, break or fray, yet it can be cut with a standard pair of scissors. It is perhaps most famous for its utilization on Japanese sword handles. Stingray leather has been used throughout history, most notably in Japan, for everything from armor and sword handle wraps to high quality wallets, handbags, and even sandpaper. It was also very popular and widely used on American and European swords and daggers. In Egypt when the tombs of ancient pharaohs were discovered, stingray leather was found to be used as armor, decoration and ornamental embellishment. More recently, stingray can often be seen in pieces of furniture, crafts, eyeglass cases, parasol umbrellas, handbags and many other products. Stingray leather is in the midst of a worldwide fashion revival. In the 1920’s Art Deco period, polished stingray leather, also known as shagreen, was at its fashionable peak covering everything from furniture to jewelry boxes. Now, due to its exotic beauty and its reputation as the worlds’ most durable leather, stingray is growing in popularity. One things that many ask about is the killing of stingrays. But leather itself comes from the hides of animals. And stingrays are neither endangered nor threatened and are found in abundance in the shallow, warm waters of the world. Specifically, throughout the Pacific Rim, Stingrays are fished commercially as a primary food source just like cattle or pigs. It’s unique beauty is highlighted by the shiny pebbly texture of the skin, along with a one-of-a-kind design feature - the bony remnant of the dorsal fin that resembles a tiny cluster of “pearls”. Today, stingray is still used for many of the above as well as knife sheaths, knife handles, wallets, belts, handbags, boots, and other accessories. There is a wallet that Hammacher Schummer sells that is made of Stingray. Here is what they say about it:
“This is the wallet handmade with an exterior of 100% genuine stingray skin, the same durable material used for centuries by Japanese swordsmiths as a wrap for weapon hilts to ensure a confident, lasting grip. Considered by many to be the toughest wallet material in the world, the resilient stingray skin withstands the daily stresses placed on a wallet, ensuring years of reliable use without the fading, cracking, or unraveling common to typical wallets. The stingray skin is naturally moisture-resistant without the need for special cleaning techniques or preservative treatments. The exterior of the wallet is decorated with a “crown” named for the center of the dorsal skin near to where the ray’s barb extruded, but has been sanded smooth during the tanning process. “
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