The Igualada Leather Museum has launched an initiative to recover tools and utensils used in old tanneries with the aim of preserving this valuable industrial heritage and preventing its disappearance. The collected material will form part of the new museum display at Cal Granotes, one of the most emblematic spaces dedicated to the history of tanning in Catalonia.
The project is part of the renovation of the old Cal Granotes tannery, where the artisanal process of transforming hides and the historical evolution of a craft that has given rise to a modern, innovative, and internationally recognized industry will be showcased.
The initiative has the support of the tanning sector, which considers it essential to preserve the memory of an activity closely linked to the comprehensive use of resources and the economic development of numerous regions. The future exhibition will allow the public to appreciate the historical importance of the leather industry and the role it has played in the evolution of manufacturing and agri-food activities.
Appeal to the Sector
For this reason, the Museum is appealing to companies, professionals, and individuals connected to the sector who possess antique tools from tanneries to collaborate on this heritage recovery project. Among the items of interest are tannery tools, leather flails, tongs, skinning irons, hanging plates, pallets, posts, and other traditional utensils used in the tanning process.
The recovered pieces will be inventoried, preserved, and may be incorporated into the new exhibition space, contributing to the preservation of the legacy of a sector that has adapted to technological and market changes without losing its historical roots.
The Leather Museum emphasizes that this initiative will allow future generations to learn about the knowledge, techniques, and culture associated with tanning, an activity with centuries of history that remains strategic for the Spanish economy and industry.
