Championing Traditional Craft

At the pigeon loft as well as a carefully curated collection of art pieces we have areas dedicated to companies using traditional craft techniques making one of a kind items - here’s a selection of our favourites

il papiro hand marbled papers

Il Papiro produces handmade decorative paper, which is still made with the same methods and techniques used in traditional 17th century artisanry.

The quality of materials and the reintroduction of the same antique techniques used by master craftsmen, such as paper marbling and woodcut, have added to its handmade decorative paper success since the last century.

Italy and Florence in particular have a rich artisan paper tradition. Most of il papiros products are crafted in Florence Italy best known for peacock paper and marbled paper which are its most beautiful and famous designs. Fine papers are now a rarity and il papiro papers are made using traditional techniques with the finest ingredients. Hand crafted marbling, woodblock prints, embossing and letterpress.

We are thrilled to be able to showcase a selection at the gallery.

Vanca leather

Vanca leather was founded in 1890 in Japan by Kinnosuke Tanaka.

The company began as an artisan workshop, creating products with unique techniques carried through generations.

In 1977 a new sewing technique was introduced which involved squeezing product materials in leather

The craftsmen shape and assemble the leather by hand, creating an eye catching sense of 3 dimensionality. This is a distinctive feature of VANCA CRAFT products and its this unique and distinctive characteristic of their work that they have continued to develop for many years.

Each piece is carefully handmade, and no two items are exactly alike.

Vanca operates a small family-run workshop with roughly 25 craftspeople handcrafting leather goods - each piece is carefully handmade by skilled craftspeople, so no two items are exactly the same.

They use only the finest Genuine full grain leathers which are sourced from Tochigi - all of which are vegetable tanned. Vegetable tanning is a process that uses natural materials like plant fibres, to penetrate the structure of the leather and strengthen it for longevity and quality.

Tochigi, founded in 1937, is said to be Japan's best tannery. They use a traditional, all-vegetable tanning process that involves 20 intricate steps, ensuring each piece of leather is of the highest quality, Tochigi’s meticulous approach results in leather that retains a beautiful, natural texture and rich oily sheen, while maintaining its durability and strength.

While faster, more efficient tanning methods are available today, Tochigi has stuck with this time-honored process for over 80 years, producing leather that is built to last a lifetime. Renowned worldwide for its quality and unique artistry, Tochigi leather is one-of-a-kind—no two pieces age the same way.

Shop our collection of Vanca products which have been adapted specially for us at the Pigeon Loft.

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Soch and Co letterpress

Soch & Co. is a letterpress studio creating stationery you’ll actually want to keep.

Born from a love of traditional printing and modern design, Soch & Co. is a studio dedicated to witty, stylish stationery and gifts. Every card, tag, and keepsake is pressed with character — designed to bring a smile, spark a moment, and be worth holding onto.

Each piece is created on antique letterpress machines in their Sheffield workshop. They use heavyweight papers, rich inks, and traditional techniques that leave a lasting impression — literally.

Their workshop is home to Betty (1890) and Harrold (1910), two treadle letterpress machines with over a century of history between them, alongside two trusty hot foilers.

This is Soch & Co. — slowly produced, carefully pressed, and proudly made in Sheffield and we at the Pigeon Loft are very proud to display the beautiful stationery and cards in the gallery.

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