What is shagreen now commonly made from?

Shagreen has been a luxurious decorative material for many centuries, though it is perhaps most closely associated with the Art Deco era. Signifying luxury and exoticism, this often controversial material is once more in vogue.

Shagreen is a type of rawhide consisting of rough untanned skin, formerly made from a horse's back or that of an onager (wild ass) and now typically refers to the skin of rays, sharks or dogfish, all of which are cartilaginous fish with a smoothly pebbled texture. It has been used for centuries as a mild abrasive, like sandpaper, in smoothing wood and metal.

Ray skin has been prized since the time of the pharaohs, and during the Chinese Han Dynasty (202 BC - AD 220). It has been better documented and preserved since it began appearing on the sword hilts and armor of Japanese samurai during the Middle Ages, in part because its texture provided a reliable grip.

Europe began importing shagreen-covered objects during the 17th and 18th centuries.

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58 Comments

Jacqueline Tattam

No thanks - don’t need to kill animals for ‘decoration’.

Cottec

NO animal should be hunted for its skin, least of all for so called art.

littledick

Had no idea what shagreen is, but guessed correctly.

JRW

Timin8or2073, you were making some good points until "No part of those animals are going to waste". Sharks are regularly hunted for their fins which too often are cut off, and the still living shark thrown back to the sea.

Player

When in doubt, choose all of the above.

Armadillo

Isabel Laing, me too.

paulmarionpeter

The question asks "now". I believe the other skins had been used in the past.

Timin8or2073

So many negative remarks. If you have anything leather, furs or even silk, which also includes anything in your vehicle, you shouldn't say anything negative. If you eat anything meat, you can't say anything at all negative. No part of those animals are going to waste, except inedible or unusable parts. Not like they're just being hunted for skins. This is my first time reading remarks, and I'm disgusted by the amount of negative comments. If all you do is complain, you should find your happiness b4 it's too late. There's not much time left.

Marienne Litolff

It’s a scientific fact that fish feel the same fear and pain that mammals do. That’s why I hate any shows where fishing is being done - would you do that to your puppy or kitten?