Shagreen Furniture

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Skilled Furniture Craft:

Created by the most skilled craftsman, shagreen furniture requires experience and time to understand this unique material, because care and attention to detail are needed to produce shagreen furniture. A simplified version of the process is as follows:

In the first phase, molds are taken from a real stingray skin, this original skin can be used many many times, the material that is poured into the molds is a polyester-based resin that takes at least one day to set before it is ready to be removed and applied to the particular piece of furniture, once all applied the finishing process can begin.

There are a couple of furniture material out there that exudes elegance and sophistication. We’re talking about furniture reserved only for the rich and famous – for the people who value their money more than others.

Just imagine it, nobody will talk of a house with traditional and dreary furniture. But when you pick something different, something rare, something that people can truly appreciate – that’s what the rich and famous are going for.

Materials:

Aside from marble pieces, other types of furniture are popular with the rich and famous. Marble pieces look perfect in any backdrop, but it’s too masculine most of the time. Steel furniture looks strong, but it does not look fancy enough without great design. On the other hand, wood is undying and immaculate no matter how you look at it. The problem is wood is ubiquitous, and it does not excite people anymore.

When it comes to furniture, the material you choose is essential. Different materials have different properties that can affect the look and feel of your furniture. For example, marble is a luxurious material, but it can also be quite cold and stiff. Wood is a warm and inviting material, but it can also be quite heavy and difficult to move around.

When choosing a material for your furniture, it’s essential to think about what you want the furniture to achieve. If you’re looking for a piece that will make a statement, marble or steel might be a good choice. If you’re looking for something more timeless and classic, wood might be the better option.

Then there’s Shagreen. Shagreen is quite rare, and most people never even heard of it. Shagreen material is not as flashy as others, but it can create really exciting pieces that can pique the interest of even the pickiest of connoisseurs.

So what is Shagreen? Why is Shagreen material an excellent to use for furniture? What makes it unique? We’ll talk all about that in this article. Let’s start!

What is Shagreen?

Shagreen’s history dates back to 2nd century CE China. Many cultures and countries have used this material over time, leading to the version we now commonly recognize as “Shagreen.”

The term “Shagreen” originates from the Persian word meaning “Tough Skin.” Theophilus Presbyter first mentioned the material in his 12th-century manuscript On Divers Arts, where he described it as crafted from skin or fish.

Process:

This rawhide comes from the thin, tough skin of sharks. After drying the skin, craftsmen beat it with a steel trowel to soften it before cutting it into smaller pieces for handle coverings or other uses. Artisans often wrapped Shagreen in gold foil to enhance its flair and prestige.

People primarily used this rawhide to cover sword handles, dagger sheaths, and the bottoms of shields to protect them from damage. During the reign of Louis XIV in France, Shagreen found its way into furniture design. Louis XIV commissioned his cabinet maker, Simon Lourdes, to craft furniture using Shagreen. Lourdes created a stunning desk, now displayed in Versailles, that demonstrates the material’s versatility and elegance.

Modern Day:

Today, Shagreen comes in many forms, but they all share a common origin: shark skin. These varieties include stingray, bamboo, cowhide, and the original form crafted directly from sharkskin.

Shagreen offers a wide range of color combinations, making it an ideal material for various furniture types, such as coffee tables, nightstands, desks, side tables, and sideboards. High-end furniture designers around the world use it to create luxurious pieces that leave a lasting impression on any guest.

Shows Faux Shagreen Skin — shows faux shagreen skin closeup

What is Shagreen Made Of?

Shagreen comes from the skin of a stingray, which undergoes curing, dyeing, and finishing with a patina, much like leather. Many of our valued customers often ask, “What is Shagreen made of?”

Historically, people used Shagreen for both decoration and practical purposes. The natural rough texture of stingray skin provided a strong grip, making it ideal for sword and dagger handles. Artisans enhanced its beauty by finishing and coloring the hides, creating a stunning effect that highlighted the unique texture of stingray skin.

Using genuine stingray skin for furniture poses challenges. From an ecological perspective, it’s unsustainable, and from a practical standpoint, the small size of stingray skins makes them unsuitable for large furniture pieces. To overcome this, furniture makers often use alternative materials, like stingray-embossed leather, to achieve the same look.

At Arin International, we create Shagreen using polyester resin. Here’s how the process works: We use natural stingray skin as a mold, pouring liquid resin into it and allowing it to cure overnight. Once cured, the resin becomes soft and malleable, similar to leather. After removing it from the mold, artisans apply the resin to the furniture piece, where the coloring and patina finishing process begins.

This approach ensures the elegance of Shagreen while offering a sustainable, durable, and visually stunning alternative to natural stingray skin.

Is Shagreen Great for Making Furniture?

There are some drawbacks to using Shagreen, though, so be aware before you start decorating your home with this material. The biggest thing is its price. It can be pretty expensive because only one established producer is left in France who supplies all of Europe’s Shagreen.

Shagreen can also be quite challenging to handle. It is very thin and easily rips under too much pressure or weight. This makes supplying your furniture a bit tough because the material comes in large pieces meaning you have to cut it yourself before applying it to your furniture. Without the proper knowledge, this can lead to improper gluing and application which can cause problems later down the road while using your piece!

But if done right, Shagreen’s durability alone might make up for some of its drawbacks. There are multiple types of Shagreen with different consistencies; some may be more fragile than others, but if you are wondering if Shagreen is durable, overall they’re all reasonably durable considering what material they are made from. You cannot expect Shagreen furniture to go through the same wear and tear that standard leather might, though.

If durability is a concern for you, there are ways around it too! Shagreen can be a bit harder to work with due to its thinness, but there are plenty of products out there from strong glues, tapes, and adhesives that make attaching shagreen pieces much more straightforward.

Shagreen Products

While it is true that Shagreen material is complex to work with, it can produce outstanding products if worked on by experts. Most of the Shagreen furniture available in the market in the past are pretty expensive. This is because only a handful of artisans can use the material to make furniture. Luckily, that has changed over the past few years. Shagreen furniture is not being made in Vietnam, where the labor is cheap, and the skills are exemplary. In turn, companies such as Arin International have produced shagreen furniture from Vietnam over the past few years.

Arin International is a furniture manufacturer based in Vietnam. Arin employs hundreds of Vietnamese artisans known for their furniture-making skills. The team specializes in making Shagreen furniture and is known worldwide for it. While the quality is undoubtedly good, the price is competitive as well. This means Shagreen furniture is no longer reserved for wealthy people.

The Shagreen furniture manufactured by the team behind Arin gets exported to over 30 different countries worldwide. Arin International even accepts custom designs for its shagreen furniture.

Shagreen Nightstand

A shagreen nightstand is a piece of furniture made from shagreen material. It is a small table that can store items such as books, magazines, or other small items. It is a perfect accessory piece in every bedroom that can elevate the room’s level of sophistication.

A nightstand is an often overlooked piece of furniture – usually the last thing we think about. Mainly because we rarely see how useful it is for us. A shagreen nightstand not only looks good, but it also serves a beautiful purpose. When you use Shagreen for a nightstand, it definitely will stand out.

Shagreen nightstands are a perfect highlight in an otherwise dull bedroom. If you are stuck with ordinary bedroom furniture, adding a shagreen nightstand will help make the rest of the more beautiful. Arin International has multiple shagreen nightstand designs you can choose from, and they can do custom work as well.

Shagreen Coffee Table

A shagreen coffee table is a table that is made from shagreen material. It is a table often used to place drinks or food on. It can also store items such as books, magazines, or other small items. A shagreen coffee table is a perfect accessory piece in every living room that can elevate the beauty of the space.

Shagreen coffee tables are usually quite expensive. This is because only a handful of artisans can use the material to make furniture. Luckily, that has changed over the past few years. Shagreen furniture is not being made in Vietnam, where the labor is cheap, and the skills are exemplary.

Shagreen Desk

This particular item is an excellent addition to the office of an avid writer or at home for those who like to manage their schedules with ease. The shagreen desk allows for quick and easy access to all the essentials you need while working on your laptop or planning out tasks for the day ahead.

A shagreen desk is no different from other desks; it’s essentially just another type of furniture that supports your laptop or writing pad. What makes this one somewhat unique is the material used in its construction – Shagreen, which is durable and stylish.

Shagreen Side Table

A side table is a small piece of furniture designed to be placed at the edge of any particular living space. They can be rectangular or round and are often used as end tables for couches, chairs, and sometimes even beds. A shagreen side table is no exception and what makes it unique is the use of this unique material known as Shagreen. While it may seem like something that would only interest those who want things that stand out because they look different rather than serve a purpose or bring an aesthetic appeal to a room, don’t assume so! If you take time to find the right design for your home, you’ll discover how valuable, such an item can be – specifically in your bedroom.

Shagreen Box

Craftsmen often create Shagreen boxes as ornate pieces with intricate designs achieved through various types of lacerations. The boxes were usually designed for royalty or individuals in significant roles, helping them carry cherished items for important occasions like weddings, engagements, or graduations.

Shagreen also works beautifully for crafting jewelry boxes, especially pearl-encrusted ones. Manufacturers rarely sell Shagreen as a raw material; instead, artisans use it to craft finished pieces. To purchase Shagreen boxes, customers typically need to contact the manufacturer directly rather than seeking raw Shagreen.

At Arin International, we specialize in custom Shagreen boxes, ideal for gifts or souvenirs. Our expert artisans can bring your design ideas to life with unmatched craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Shagreen Sideboards

A shagreen sideboard serves as an alternative cabinet for holding drinks and food in dining rooms or other settings where people gather around tables, such as conventions and weddings.

This versatile piece enhances the overall ambience of the room, complementing the space rather than drawing attention solely to itself. Unlike most nightstands, desks, or coffee tables, a shagreen sideboard integrates seamlessly into the decor. Its placement near a dining table makes it a perfect choice for events like parties and weddings, offering more functionality and style than a standard sideboard.

Shagreen Mirror

A shagreen mirror is a beautiful type of mirror. Often mirrors are used as decoration to match the personality of their living space.

At first glance, Shagreen mirrors appear somewhat ordinary. Still, after observing for some time, one can see how fascinating it is, like looking at an abstract painting composed of natural materials. This is because Shagreen material does not look amazing on your first look – if anything, it seems pretty ordinary.

A shagreen mirror is perfect for the main rooms in a house as it looks exquisite. Pair it with other shagreen furniture such as a table or an accessory like a shagreen soap dispenser. People will instantly feel a million dollars richer just by using them.

Most manufacturers do not make shagreen mirrors, but Arin International does! We provide high-quality, classy, and unique pieces for your home that you cannot find anywhere else!

This material enjoys incredible popularity in the furniture market because of its unique characteristics.

Most of our mirrors feature plain mirrored glass, but we also offer options with antique glass or eglomise mirrored glass. The eglomise process involves applying silver or gold leaf to the back of the glass, creating a foggy, antique effect.

Let me know if you’d like additional changes!

Cream shagreen mirror with stainless steel trim

shagreen mirror with walnut trim closeup view

Shagreen Table

Furniture makers value this material for its unique and rare combination of qualities

Shagreen tables are perfect for the main rooms in a house as they look really elegant.

Most manufacturers do not make shagreen tables, but Arin International does! We provide high-quality, classy, and unique pieces for your home that you cannot find anywhere else!

Shagreen Bed

The use of shagreen beds is typically in bedrooms. However, if you have an aquarium or something similar in your room, it might be good to put one there because they tend to look very luxurious while adding some accent lighting that makes them seem more mesmerizing. This combination makes boring bedrooms into a place of luxury.

People should buy these shagreen beds for their bedroom because they look and feel elegant. They may not look that great at first, but they are one of a kind.

Arin International makes shagreen beds of varying designs and sizes for clients worldwide. We are also open to custom designs for clients who already know what kind of shagreen bed they want.

Faux Shagreen Furniture: What is it?

Faux Shagreen mimics the look of genuine Shagreen but does not use the material itself. Craftsmen create this material from options like wood, plastic, or metal. It offers a delicate appearance while withstanding heavy use, wear, and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic environments. Whether in a residential home or commercial space, Faux Shagreen furniture delivers a unique and exclusive aesthetic with impressive durability. Maintaining it is simple—just clean with soap and water to remove built-up dirt and grime over time.

The main difference between Faux Shagreen and genuine Shagreen lies in the materials used. Faux Shagreen avoids the use animal skin, making it a more ethical and affordable choice. It also retains the appeal of Shagreen’s unique and hard-to-find qualities while remaining durable and budget-friendly.

Faux Shagreen’s popularity continues to grow as more people view the harvesting of genuine Shagreen as exploitative. Each year, hunters kill hundreds, if not thousands, of dogfishes, rays, or sharks solely for their skin. Environmentalists argue that such actions are unnecessary since Shagreen serves primarily decorative purposes.

The rise of Faux Shagreen reflects society’s appreciation for its aesthetic combined with a commitment to protecting nature. By choosing Faux Shagreen, consumers enjoy the same luxurious look and feel without the ethical concerns tied to animal harvesting

Faux Shagreen Coffee Table

If you hunt for a coffee table that won’t break the bank but still looks great, then a faux shagreen coffee table is a great choice. This type of table is an excellent option for those who want the look of Shagreen but don’t want to pay the high price tag that comes with it.

Shagreen coffee tables come in different shapes and sizes, and Arin International can manufacture them for you.

Shagreen Nightstand

Faux Shagreen Nightstands are pieces of furniture that look great but don’t cost a fortune. They are a great option if you want the look of Shagreen but don’t want to pay the high price.

Shagreen Desk

Want the durability and strength of wood or other materials but still want your desk to look gorgeous? A faux shagreen desk might be the best solution for you. Faux shagreen desks are desks made of material closely similar to regular Shagreen but with more durability. This ensures that the table will last for a long time, even if you use it daily.

We all know how much stress a desk can get from everyday use. If you choose to use regular Shagreen, the material will deteriorate in years and even months.