Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Prim Media 1770 Material Sheepskin from Xalda breed Natural Cultural Cultural Function Decoration, rug, baby cradle base, cushion lining, bag material, among others. Creation Purpose Direct sale to customers. Technique To create this piece, the lamb must be slaughtered at around six months of age, or once it reaches the appropriate size. After slaughter, the hide is removed through a series of precise cuts along the animal’s body. The tanning process is carried out naturally using salt. This traditional method removes excess moisture and preserves the fleece. Unlike industrial tanning, which involves harsh chemical treatments, salt tanning maintains the wool’s original properties. If conventional chemicals used in the leather industry were applied, the fleece would detach completely, resulting in the loss of one of the material’s key qualities. Once tanned and dehydrated with salt, the hide is hung to dry. Traditionally, in rural villages, hides were hung on the outer walls of hórreos—elevated granaries typical of northern Spain—where they were protected from direct sunlight to prevent damage to the fleece. Marina and Rodrigo use drying frames for this process, which allows for even drying. Once dry, the hide becomes stiff and cardboard-like in texture, but gradually softens with use. To accelerate this process, moisturizing creams can be applied to improve its flexibility. Lambs of the Xalda breed, native to Asturias, produce small-sized hides that are highly valued for their quality and unique characteristics. Today, this activity represents a promising business opportunity, as it allows for the reuse of a by-product that is typically discarded in the meat industry. In Spain, there are factories dedicated to hide production, although most operate on an industrial scale, and even large multinational furniture companies use this type of material. On a semi-artisanal level, there are tanneries that produce conventional hides without fleece, especially in the neighboring region of Galicia, where small factories still exist. However, in Asturias, there are no traditional tanneries available to process the hides. Marina and Rodrigo could increase their production if they had acce Material Source These sheepskins originate from lambs raised and processed at Marina and Rodrigo’s livestock farm. Conecept This object has practically disappeared in Asturias, as it is rarely used today for cradles or saddles. Nevertheless, for many people it holds a value beyond decoration, as it is made from the hide of a native sheep breed and serves as a way to connect with rural life through an item that, although now primarily decorative, carries strong cultural and symbolic significance. Production Quality Produced in batches of 40 to 50 units, depending on the flock size and slaughter schedule. External ID UNIOVI_AR_41 Field Worker Rodríguez Pérez, Santiago Craft leatherwork Tool Containers for salt tanning, and drying frames. Place The town or city Tene, Quirós, Asturias, Spain Wiki A link to a wiki entry about this item. https://culturality.museum/wiki/index.php/Sheepskin_with_fleece Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sheepskin with fleece Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Description An account of the resource This product is a sheepskin tanned naturally using salt, which preserves both the hide and the animal’s original fleece. Salt tanning is a traditional technique that avoids the use of harsh chemicals, maintaining the natural properties of the wool, such as its softness, durability, and thermal insulation capacity. Historically, these fleeces were used as a base in cradles for babies due to their waterproof and insulating qualities. The structure of the wool repels moisture and allows for good air circulation, helping to maintain a stable body temperature. Additionally, its softness and natural texture provided a comfortable and safe surface for newborns. They were also used as padding in saddles, offering comfort and thermal protection for the rider. In rainy regions of northern Spain, it was common to cover the foreheads of oxen and cows yoked for agricultural work with skins from dogs, sheep, goats, or badgers, to prevent moisture from weakening the leather straps (corniales), thus ensuring the effectiveness of the draft. Today, sheepskin fleeces have found new uses in home decor. They are highly valued as rugs, sofa or armchair covers, and decorative elements in interior spaces, thanks to their rustic and cozy aesthetic. They are also used in fashion and accessories, such as bags or outerwear. In addition to their functionality, naturally tanned sheepskins are a sustainable option, as they make use of a by-product of livestock farming and avoid polluting industrial processes. This makes them an environmentally friendly alternative, aligned with current trends in responsible consumption. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Sheepskins are produced throughout the year, depending on lambing dates and the age of the animals. The documented piece was made a few months prior to our visit. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource 1616 Language A language of the resource Spanish Extent The size or duration of the resource. 90cm x cm x 50cm Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource iain Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 723 References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. La piel de las ovejas, ardi-larrua. Atlas Etnográfico de Vasconia. Disponible en: https://atlasetnografico.labayru.eus/index.php/La_piel_de_las_ovejas_ardi-larrua Fajardo Hernández, R. M. (2020, enero 23). Más de un Siglo de Carneros en El Hierro, 1920-2020. Gaceta del Meridiano. https://www.gacetadelmeridiano.com/index.php/la-isla/156-cultura/6209-mas-de-un-siglo-de-carneros-en-el-hierro-1920-2020 Rodríguez Rodríguez, A. (1997). La tecnología de la piel y el cuero en la prehistoria de Canarias. Una aproximación etnoarqueológica. El Museo Canario, 52, 11-31. https://accedacris.ulpgc.es/jspui/handle/10553/24250 Date Submitted Date of submission of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Submitted may be relevant are a thesis (submitted to a university department) or an article (submitted to a journal). 13/10/2025 Alternative Title An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific. Piel de cordero con pelo natural, zalea (spa..) Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. current,43.204933648779495,-5.993876638159771; Europeana Specific elements of the Europeana Semantic Elements. Europeana Type The Europeana material type of the resource. TEXT