Anyone know leather?

[Louis Balfour]

I bought a briefcase online "new old stock" from the 90s, its fittings still have factory wrap on them. The seller at the last minute said it was damaged and cannot be sent, and has sent the attached images.

That looks like odd damage for leather, more like faux leather that a rodent has been chewing. Or it is brittle. But I am no expert.

Anyone know more than me about leather such that they can comment? I seem to recall someone on here works with leather.

TIA.

[Square Leg]

I think it’s Fermit who is the leather guy on here.

[tumble dryer]

Not leather. (IANALE)

[Mobile Chicane]

Looks like PU to me. Check the 'moulded' area next to the zip in Pic 3

[Jonquil]

Faux leather, the grain is far too regular.

[Louis Balfour]

Jonquil said:

Faux leather, the grain is far too regular.

That is the conclusion I came to.

[wolfracesonic]

It could be real leather, often the top layer of cheap crappy leather is sanded away and a 'grain' embossed into it to hide any defects or just to make it look more 'leathery', hence the regularity in the pattern. The piping may well be artificial though.

[Goaty Bill 2]

Perhaps not much use without it in your possession but; Tom at The Valet in Piccadilly Arcade is something of an expert in all things leather.
He takes care of leather repairs and refurbishment, patinas and re-colouring etc.
I've inspected his work when he was located in Cad & the Dandy. Very good (top shoe polisher as well).

[Louis Balfour]

Looking at my own photos, especially the bottom one, tells me it isn’t leather.

The seller was hasty about refunding rather than negotiating a discount, so I suspect she also twigged it wasn’t leather.

It was from Dunhill; you’d think they would be better than that.