Valorisation Patrimoine Sud Tarn
Panel 6


Fellmongery, a Proven Process in 8 Steps
Sheep and lamb skins, generally from animals slaughtered for meat consumption, are dried, disinfected, and preserved either dry or salted. These are purchased on behalf of the Mazamet fellmongers and then subjected to the main fellmongery operations.
Grading involves sorting the skins according to their quality, and the fineness and length of the wool; it can be done before fleshing or just before pulling.
Soaking in special vats aims to soften the leather and makes the skin capable of withstanding the fleshing process.
Deburring involves passing the skin under a strong stream of water between two cylinders armed with metal blades, which removes most of the impurities it contains, such as soil, sand, thistles, straw, etc. This operation is entrusted to the "deburring operator," whose specialty represents a kind of aristocracy in fellmongery. Paid per task, the deburring operator receives a higher wage than the other fellmongery workers.
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Resoaking, conditioned by the water temperature and the nature of the skins, does not last more than 24 hours.
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Illustration from the book "Le délainage et sa capitale Mazamet" by Gaston Poulain - 1951

