I was first introduced to shagreen when I lived next door to Lille,
my favorite place to buy home accessories. Now an online business, owner Lydia Lando
Hubs bought me the most divine shagreen box by R & Y.
Since then, shagreen has remained my favorite animal hide.
The stingray has a multi-patterned durable skin. The back bone
which resembles clusters of white pearls
was thought to be a protector of good luck and prosperity.
Early civilizations used stingray skin to fashion armor and handle covers on Samurai swords.
Not knowing then of its history,
once while visiting Lille I admired a shagreen pedestal table and asked the salesgirl
if water could be spilled on its surface.
After looking at me in judgement for a few seconds she replied,
"Yesss...it's made from stingray afterall...".
Touche.
