Despite a recent resurgence in craftsmanship, some of the old methods are simply dying out. Tanning leather is among the oldest crafts, with the first evidence of the profession dating back several thousand years. Today, the traditional European method of using tree bark—specifically the bark of the spruce—is all but lost. One tannery in the northern reaches of Sweden is carrying on the tradition of …
The Last Spruce Tannery: Sweden’s Böle