In principle, all leather items made from natural leather can be embellished with embossing. Today, this ranges from handbags to belts, belt bags, phone cases, iPad covers, mouse pads, coasters, puzzle cups, jewelry, and dog collars. Leather is embossed with embossing tools to create a depression of the pattern. Since the leather must be elastic, only vegetable-tanned cowhide can be used, not chrome-tanned leather. After embossing the leather, it is usually dyed with various leather stains and colors. By applying a special antique paste to the colored areas, the appearance of an old leather item can be created. Finally, the edges are smoothed and dyed, and the surface is often sealed to be water-repellent. Illustrated with 15 black and white plates. Reprint of the original edition from 1926.