Tannery Pillows

These are colour vats at the Chouara Tannery in Fes, Morocco. Built in the 11th century, it is the largest tannery in the city. Since the inception of the city, the tanning industry has been continually operating in the same fashion as it did in the early centuries. The tanneries are packed with the round stone vessels filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides.

One of the last 6-7 tanneries still in use in Tabakaria (="tanneries"), neighborhood, Chania city, Crete, Greece. Once upon a time there were more than 50 tanneries in the same neighborhood.

HDR photograph of The Tannery pub in Hexham, Northumberland (UK)

Chaouware Tanneriesis one of the three tanneries in the city of Fez, Morocco. Built in the 11th century, it is the largest tannery in the city. It is located in the Fes el Bali, the oldest medina quarter of the city, near the Saffarin Madrasa along the river. Since the inception of the city, the tanning industry has been continually operating in the same fashion as it did in the early centuries. Today, the tanning industry in the city is considered one of the main tourist attractions. The tanneries are packed with the round stone vessels filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides. The leather goods produced in the tanneries are exported around the world.

Sunset in an abandoned tannery in Karlovasi town, Samos island, Greece.

This is the far end of the Tannery (Mall) in Woolston, Christchurch

Sunset in an abandoned tannery in Karlovasi town, Samos island, Greece Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Chaouware Tanneriesis one of the three tanneries in the city of Fez, Morocco. Built in the 11th century, it is the largest tannery in the city. It is located in the Fes el Bali, the oldest medina quarter of the city, near the Saffarin Madrasa along the river. Since the inception of the city, the tanning industry has been continually operating in the same fashion as it did in the early centuries. Today, the tanning industry in the city is considered one of the main tourist attractions. The tanneries are packed with the round stone vessels filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides. The leather goods produced in the tanneries are exported around the world.

The hand process of curing animal hides is a long and arduous one. In Morocco, it is still done the "old fashioned" way dipping the hides into various vats and all done by hand. More about Chouara Tannery: Built in the 11th century, it is the largest tannery in Fez. Since the inception of the city, the tanning industry has been continually operating in the same fashion as it did in the early centuries. The tanneries are packed with the round stone vessels filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides. The entire leather production process comprises manual labor only and involves no modern machinery, and has retained methods unchanged since medieval times.