Tin-silver thread

Tin is extracted from a corresponding ore by means of carbon reduction. The resultant metal has a silvery sheen, and is resistant to atmospheric corrosion caused by organic materials. However, tin pest (also called tin disease) can occur at low temperatures – but this danger can be eliminated by combining tin with other metals to form an alloy.

For this reason, our thread comprises 96 percent tin and 4 percent silver. This creates a highly durable material of very high quality that can withstand even extreme cold without any deterioration.

Reindeer leather

Traditionally, tin-silver thread is employed to embroider reindeer leather. The Saami people have, since time immemorial, always tanned reindeer skins with bark, typically harvested from willow, birch and fir trees.

Currently, there is such high demand for reindeer leather that tanning is generally performed on an industrial scale by large specialist companies. Nevertheless, vegetable tanning (with bark) remains the method of choice. This ensures the leather does not contain any potentially allergenic chromium. However, it does mean slight variations in the colour of each tanned hide.

The reindeer live in the wild in the Arctic. This harsh environment leaves its mark, literally, on their skin. It is therefore very difficult to find reindeer leather that is entirely without blemishes. The biggest bane in a reindeer’s life is the warble fly that lays its larvae on the animal’s back, under the skin, until they hatch. This creates small holes in the skin. These eventually heal, but scarring often remains, visible in the form of small spots. Scar tissue is frequently thicker than the surrounding skin, and takes on more colour during tanning. For this reason, there are often variations in the colour of reindeer leather.

Buttons made from reindeer antler or pure sterling silver

All our buttons are made by hand. Unique amongst deer species, both male and female reindeer grow antlers. The antlers on a male (bull) are approximately 50 to 130 centimetres in length, and therefore much broader than those of the female (cow), which measure just 20 to 50 centimetres. The bulls drop their antlers in the autumn, the cows in the spring. Generally, reindeer only shed one antler at a time, and so temporarily bear just a single antler on one side.

The thrown antlers are collected by the Saami people, and used for a variety of purposes, including the manufacture of buttons.
Each and every saami crafts bracelet is an original. But they can be made even more distinctive: with the unique saami crafts button fastening, made entirely from sterling silver. Available for any bracelet in our collection!