I have done work on some leather furniture.  I thought I'd explain the different types in a way that woodworkers would understand.

 

There are (at least) a few  types of leather that is used on furniture.  In brief:

 

• "Finished leather"  This is leather that has had a colored top coat on it and you can find this is a wide variety of colors -- white, black, red, blue, etc.   The analogy here is painted wood.  This is the most common type of leather used in furniture and may have had scars or  other defects buffed out before "painting"
• "Unfinished leather"  This is a high grade leather, maybe the top 10-15% without lots of defects.  It has a clear coat on it, and maybe some tinting.  Think of stained and varnished wood
• "Waxed leather" Another high grade leather that has a wax treatment on it.  It is quite prone to scuffing and staining from body and hair oils.  But it's seen in premium pieces.  Think of wood with a wax only finish.  One of my customers once had one  of these in the showroom and got scuffs.  Then customers, noticing the scuffs, ran their fingernails across it and scuffed it more.   I got some wax treatment and treated it and fortunately it sold within the next week.
• Not sure the name of this anymore but it's seen in very low quality furniture (think Ashley), or maybe sometimes in the secondary parts like outside back and outside arm side panels.  It's basically chopped up leather that's reconstituted and then painted.  Think of particle board.  In my experience, it does not have a lot of tensile strength and can tear easily on stress places like seats and arms.  I've even had problems getting it to hold together when I stapled down an edge underneath.
• No experience with this type, but leather that has the hair still on it.  Most often seen in chair seats, etc.
• I'm sure there are other more exotic leathers from other animals like pigs, ostriches, etc.  I've only seen these on things like handbags.

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

I'm sure there are other more exotic leathers from other animals like pigs, ostriches, etc.  I've only seen these on things like handbags.

Often seen on VERY expensive 'Cowboy" boots. Also rattlesnake leather.

And let's not forget "No animals died for this" leather. Used extensively in the outside arms and backs of furniture, where abrasion isn't a problem. Naugahyde was an early version, and good enough that many buyers SWORE their chair/sofa was REAL leather. And today, many 'leather' shoes and boots are actually made of some sort of artificial material.

Edited April 19, 20242 yr by HARO50

37 minutes ago, HARO50 said:

Naugahyde was an early version

Sadly, the Nauga went extinct just after its hide became too popular

I remember the "tuck and roll" Naugahyde car interiors. Seems like for a while it was referred to as "rich Corinthian leather" on one advertisement. (Anyone remember Ricardo Mantalban doing the Chrysler commercials?)

16 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Anyone remember Ricardo Mantalban doing the Chrysler commercials?)

17 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I remember the "tuck and roll" Naugahyde car interiors. Seems like for a while it was referred to as "rich Corinthian leather" on one advertisement. (Anyone remember Ricardo Mantalban doing the Chrysler commercials?)

"Look boss, de plane, de plane"

21 hours ago, lew said:

Sadly, the Nauga went extinct just after its hide became too popular

Lew, I was going to say something similar, but you beat me to it.