COWHIDES
Our range of cowhide rugs are a bi-product of the South American meat industry where instead of going to waste, cowhides are tanned and preserved with the hair on, showcasing their spectacular unique markings to provide a natural covering for walls, stone and wooden floors or as use as a throw over furniture to add texture and colour to any interior.
Each cowhide has been hand selected by Hanlin, working with some of the finest tanneries in South America to ensure good quality and variation of markings. As with all natural hides and skins, you should expect to see hides that have some fire branding marks, scarring or insect bite marks. Some have minor imperfections including stitching or small patched repairs, but this does not take away from the hides stunning appearance as a whole piece and should not be viewed as a defect.
Our hides are chromium tanned, which provides not only a durable rug with no unpleasant odours but also the supple finish makes them ideal for upholstery of furniture pieces such as footstools and barstools as well as manufacturing of small leather goods such as handbags and purses.
Our printed and metallic cowhides offer an alternative to the traditional natural cowhides. The metallic hides have been specially treated with acid spray to remove some of the hair and those areas have then been filled with a metallic foil offering a unique style. The printed cowhides, with their stunning designs are not only popular with those looking for a more funky and fresh look but also with those wanting to use the hides in manufacturing.
As no two cowhides are the same, we offer a unique service of providing you with photos of every hide for your selection. Please take some time to view our range of cowhides and to look through all of the different colour categories as the variation of markings needs to be seen to be believed!
SIZING
Cowhides are measured at the tanneries where machines are used to calculate the size in square meters. The table below shows how these figures fall into each of our size categories.
| X-Small | Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | XX-Large | XXX-Large |
| 1.0 – 1.9 sq.m | 2.0 – 2.4 sq.m | 2.5 – 3.4 sq.m | 3.5 – 3.9 sq.m | 4.0 – 4.4 sq.m | 4.5 – 4.9 sq.m | 5.0 – 5.4 sq.m |
If you need a length and width measurement of any of our cowhides, please note down the unique product codes and contact our sales team who can have the hide dimensions measured by our warehouse team. This will be measured from the neck to the base of the hide (longest point) and from the tips of the legs (widest point).
DISCOUNTS
We are able to offer discount for bulk orders of cowhides. If you have any specific requirements regarding quantity, please do not hesitate to contact our sales team who will be happy to help.
| Quantity | Discount |
| 25 pieces | 5% |
| 50 pieces | 10% |
| 100 pieces | 15% |
COWHIDE PRODUCT CARE
It is ok to fold a cowhide rug for transporting or storage but it will need some time to relax after it is unfolded. Creases will drop out after a few days of being laid out and piling books on to more stubborn creases can aid this process.
To clean your cowhide, you may use the soft bristle brush attachment on your vacuum, going with the grain of the hair, do not push the hair upwards.
In dry conditions you may take the hide outdoors and give a gentle shake, this will allow fresh air into the hide and give it the opportunity to breathe, helping to release any odours that collected in the hair and will also help the clean the underneath.
For any spills, take a damp cloth and using a small amount of mild soap gently wipe in the direction of the hair grain. Do not get the hide too wet. Once you have removed the spill, use a clean damp cloth to gently remove any excess soap. Put an object underneath the area of the spill to allow for drying. Not suitable for machine or dry cleaning.
For solid matters, remove using a blunt edge and move in the direction of the hair grain. Then wipe with a damp cloth.
Cowhide rugs do not tend to move much when placed on the floor due to the weight of the hide and the textured reverse. However, Velcro or double sided tape can be used to help the rug from being kicked up at the edges if you wish. The rug should be moved or rotated occasionally to ensure even wear if used in areas of higher traffic.