Tannery (“die Gerbe”) from 1868 to around 1910. Production of shoe leather by the Buholzer brothers in the Kastanienbaum tannery.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST: THE TANNERY OF KASTANIENBAUM, CIRCA 1868
This illustration shows the tannery and leather trade of the Buholzer brothers, as it stood around 1868 on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Kastanienbaum. Just a few minutes’ walk from today’s atelier, animal hides were processed here using natural tannins – surrounded by nature, water, and chestnut trees.
Historical entry book of the Kastanienbaum tannery (1863). Listed were hides from regional butcher shops – categorized by type, weight, and price."
TRACES OF THE PAST
A handwritten entry ledger from 1863 reveals just how deeply rooted the leather craft is in Kastanienbaum. It records the delivery of animal hides from regional butcheries – including places like Lucerne and Stans.
Each entry notes the type of raw material, the supplier, the weight, and the price of the hides delivered. These were then processed in the nearby tannery using plant-based tanning agents such as chestnut bark – true to 19th-century tradition.
Documents like this tell the story of a time when craftsmanship was not only locally grounded but closely connected to nature and regional trade.
1893 diploma awarded to the Buholzer brothers. A historical testament to excellence in genuine leather tanning – and to the deep roots of craftsmanship in Kastanienbaum.
EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP – THEN AND NOW
This diploma from 1893 was awarded to the Buholzer brothers – in recognition of outstanding quality in genuine leather tanning.
It stands as a powerful testament to how highly leather craftsmanship was once valued in Kastanienbaum and the surrounding region – and how deeply the pursuit of precision and quality is rooted in this place.
This historical link is more than a coincidence. It’s a quiet echo of the past – a reminder of how deeply leather, nature, and craftsmanship were once intertwined.
Through Ciconiidae, this spirit lives on – reimagined for today.
