Cordoba leather

Cordovans and guadamecí: the art of leatherwork

The caliphal guadamecí (embossed leather) reflects the singular and exquisite art of decorating and painting leather, dating back to 10th-century Cordoba. This component of our cultural heritage has been handed down to us courtesy of the efforts of generations of craftspeople, determined to preserve our traditions. In this workshop we’ll learn to differentiate the caliphal embossment of cordovans and other leatherwork and their contribution to the history of art as the ultimate in decoration. We’ll learn about their importance to the unfolding of Al-Andalus and why the region administered by the Omeya Caliphate was the only place in the world where these sublime crafts were practised. Subsequently, with wars and the passing of time, output went into decline owing to the delicate condition of the artefacts. As we shall learn however, the craft was later revived and now Cordoba is once again sending its leatherwork out into the wider world.

LEATHER WORKSHOP

We offer you private access to the inner sanctum of this age-old tradition, the craft workshop, where new pieces are born and restoration work is undertaken, where the master craftsman shares his art and techniques and lets us in on the secrets of leatherwork. This is the place to experience at first hand the novel smells, textures and colour combinations of the craft. And finally, we’ll keep as a memory of the day the work that was made and the tools used in its creation, thus becoming living repositories of an age-old craft.

All of this will take place in the incomparable setting of a traditional Cordoba house, with patios and columns, just a stone’s throw from the Mezquita. What awaits you is thus a sublime feast for the senses and the unique sensation of being part of Al-Andalus thanks to an art that was, and continues to be, one of Cordoba’s essential hallmarks.