I would be interested in some historical background. How were the hides prepared (briefly), and what tools were used to achieve the design during the Renaissance? One of my brothers did some leather work 45+ years ago, but he went to Tandy Leather, got a piece of prepared leather, and bought steel punches (is that the correct term) with various design elements tooled into them. Smack one end with a mallet, and you left an imprint of the design that was on the other end in the leather. What did they use to work a design into the leather, and from what materials were their tools made?

I would have the same types of questions about the dying, burnishing, and any other finishing process. Aso, what part of society could afford to own a nicely worked piece of leather?