Name: Tanner Hall
Current Craftmaster: (Open)
Colors: Brown
Purpose: The main Hall teaches the basics of tannery to any interested student;
fact, the Tannercraft has one of the most active Craft school for nonapprentices, since the needs and applications for cured
hides are many. Most people have some knowledge of the basics, whether they learn them here or from the tanners back in their
home Holds.
Apprentices cure all the hides they can in their own holds. Salt is used for curing when it is available.
Curing done with creatures' brains produce glove-soft leather that is much prized for garments. The Crafthall is well downwind
of the Hold, protecting the population from the natural effluence of smells that accompany the preservation of hides. Hanging
from the rafters and beams are sheaves of drying thongs, and stretching racks hang or are propped against any unoccupied surface.
Because of the noxious air, the bronze shutters of the many windows are flung wide most of the time. The stone floors are
swept and scrubbed regularly, but scraps of leather and scattered drops of cure or dye are constantly underfoot.
The more sure-handed apprentices are expected to re-grind knives and tools to the customary razor-edged
sharpness as part of their duties. Every tanner's hands are covered with cuts and blots—the marks of his profession.
The Mastertanner's own hands are a rainbow of dyes.
Every major Hold has a tanner-trained cobbler working full-time. He keeps lasts of everyone important
to make shoes or boots in their size. Each Weyr has at least one tanner or hide specialist whose job it is to produce the
leathers needed for riding gear.
The Tannercraftmaster is really not as important as many of the other Craftmasters. Like cooking, Winecraft,
and masonry, tannery is considered a hold craft. The rougher work, such as the fashioning of harness, riding garments, and
furniture covering, is easily learned and passed on. To maintain crafthold prestige, the Mastertanner has reserved as craft
secrets some special processes and chemicals, techniques, and compounds to make finer leathers, such as glove and boot leather.
He personally oversees the continuation of some Ancient techniques, which he keeps very secret. He considers it good business
to have as barter-fit goods or services for trade some things that only the Tannercraft can provide.
Location: Igen Hold
Information curtesy of the Dragonlover's Guide to Pern
