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Shagreen is a noble material used by the Japanese Samurai as armour and for covering sword hilts. It was introduced in Europe in the 18th century by the French craftsman Jean Claude Galuchat and became a fashionable material for decorative arts. Louis XV, Marie Antoinette and Napoleon III were among its famous collectors. It was also a popular decorative material during the Art Deco period.

Our shagreen wallcoverings are hand made by artisans using the traditional Galuchat method. The finished product is a leather-like material of great resilience. It is characterised by small enamel nodules, the result of the smoothing of a type of scale unique to sting rays.

We use the species Dasyatis Sephen found in the Indo-Pacific waters. For generations they have been a traditional food source of fishermen in Southeast Asia. They have been fished responsibly for the table and the skins that we use are a by product of this food industry.

View the Shagreen collection