Tempesti Ambra Elbamatt Liscio

Ambra represents one of several color options within the Elbamatt Liscio product line, which Tempesti has produced since 1946 as part of their vegetable-tanned leather offerings. The color sits within an earth-tone palette designed to develop rich patina through wear and exposure.

Tempesti Ambra Elbamatt Liscio shares the core characteristics of the broader Elbamatt Liscio line while featuring the distinctive amber-brown hue. The leather maintains the full-grain vegetable-tanned construction with a crust finish that preserves the natural character of the hides. The material exhibits a delicate pull-up effect where handled areas temporarily lighten before returning to their base color.

The leather features medium firmness despite exceptional flexibility, achieved through drum dyeing and hand stuffing with natural greases. The ultra-smooth grain and soft surface result from careful selection of cow butts that provide tight and pliable grain structure. Unlike heavily finished leathers, Ambra retains an oiled, aniline character with no protective topcoat, allowing the material to absorb oils and develop patina naturally over time.

Tempesti offers Ambra Elbamatt Liscio in two standard thickness ranges suited to different applications. The lighter weight measures 1.0-1.2 mm (2.5-3 oz) while the heavier weight spans 1.8-2.0 mm (4.5-5 oz). Heritage footwear manufacturers typically select the heavier weight for boot uppers, while the lighter weight finds use in smaller leather goods and accessories.

Tempesti produces Ambra Elbamatt Liscio using vegetable tanning processes the company has refined over seven decades. The tannery begins with hand-selected cow butts chosen for grain tightness and pliability. After vegetable tanning in Tempesti's environmentally friendly processes, craftsmen apply aniline drum dyeing to achieve the amber-brown coloration without obscuring the leather's natural grain patterns.

Hand stuffing with natural greases follows the dyeing stage, imparting the characteristic flexibility and pull-up effect. The leather receives a crust finish rather than heavy topcoats, preserving the unique character of individual hides and enabling the pronounced patina development the material is known for. This finishing approach allows the leather to breathe and age naturally while accepting oils from handling.

The vegetable tanning and minimal finishing of Ambra Elbamatt Liscio produce distinctive aging characteristics valued by heritage footwear enthusiasts. The leather's pores absorb oils from hands and wear, causing gradual darkening in frequently handled areas. Simultaneously, exposure to air causes oxidation that can shift the leather's hue, creating variation across a single item.

The hand-burnished finish applied during production presents a casual appearance that evolves distinctly with use. Areas of flex, wear, and contact develop deeper tones while protected sections retain more of the original amber coloration. This natural patina development creates unique character that intensifies over years of use.

Heritage footwear manufacturers value Tempesti Ambra Elbamatt Liscio for its combination of durability, flexibility, and aging characteristics. Oak Street Bootmakers incorporates the leather in Cap-Toe Field Boots and other models, pairing it with Goodyear welt construction and rubber-studded soles for rugged applications.

Tricker's has featured the leather in exclusive collaborations, notably the Stow Boot produced for Division Road. These boots combine Tempesti's full-weight leather uppers with stacked leather soles and traditional English country boot construction. The amber tone complements both casual and refined footwear styles while developing character through wear.