Dordzhi Nandyshev, About How to Process Pelt

Duration: 7 mins 46 secs

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Description:	Dordzhi talks about how to process cow’s pelt in order to make whips:


Created:	2019-05-04 15:20
Collection:	Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (LEATHERWORK)
Publisher:	University of Cambridge
Copyright:	University of Cambridge
Language:	xal (Kalmyk; Oirat)


Abstract:	In Soviet times everything was mass produced at factories. That is why many traditional crafts became forgotten. In the past, all Kalmyk men could process pelt and work with wood. People made horse harnesses themselves, and were taught about various crafts from childhood. A whip variety called ‘shilvr’ has two parts: a long and a short one. The long part is woven from six leather straps. To prepare the straps, one needs first to treat a cow’s pelt with sour milk. Then the pelt is cut into wide straps and immersed into salty sour milk. When the pelt softens, it is easier to rid it of hair. When the straps are ready, they are hung and stretched by tying a stone to the bottom. In order to make them soft, the straps are smeared with horse’s fat.

Abstract:

In Soviet times everything was mass produced at factories. That is why many traditional crafts became forgotten. In the past, all Kalmyk men could process pelt and work with wood. People made horse harnesses themselves, and were taught about various crafts from childhood.
A whip variety called ‘shilvr’ has two parts: a long and a short one. The long part is woven from six leather straps. To prepare the straps, one needs first to treat a cow’s pelt with sour milk. Then the pelt is cut into wide straps and immersed into salty sour milk. When the pelt softens, it is easier to rid it of hair. When the straps are ready, they are hung and stretched by tying a stone to the bottom. In order to make them soft, the straps are smeared with horse’s fat.

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