
On December 10, 1786 a strong gale blowing from the Southwest forced the Danish brigantine, the “Metta Catharina” to seek shelter in Plymouth Sound. She had been bound for the Mediterranean with a cargo of hemp and leather from St. Petersburg.
By night, the winds had strengthened so hard that the Catharina broke free from her anchor, eventually striking Drakes Island and sinking on the Cornish side of the Sound. The crew were able to get ashore to safety but the ship and its cargo was lost – until 200 years later.
In 1973 divers from the British Sub-Aqua Club found the sunken Catharina 30 meters below the surface of Plymouth Sound. Further investigation revealed bundles of remarkably well preserved leather hides littering the sea floor.
These hides were tanned the traditional Russian way which involves soaking them in pits with willow bark and birch oil. The fact that this leather has survived for so long is due as much to the thoroughness and excellence of work carried out by the tanners of St. Petersburg, as well as the black mud at the bottom of Plymouth Sound.
We are extremely pleased to offer the extremely rare and beautiful “Russian” leathergoods produced by George Cleverley.



Each piece is truly one-of-a-kind.
Wash bag, $895.00
Breast wallet, $650.00
Hip wallet, $550.00
Credit card case, $450.00
Belt, $400.00