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Le Mégissier | The Tawer 

The occupation of mégissier, or tawer, comes from the word mégis — a bath of ash and alum used to tan animal skins. Tanning simply means treating the skin to prevent it from rotting. The mégissier could also be called a mégisseur.

The tawer's job was to prepare animal hides, usually those of sheep and other delicate skins. More generally, he prepared white leather, especially those used to make gloves, as well as skins where the hair was to be retained. The tawer worked only with small skins (lamb, sheep and goats), as opposed to the tanner who transformed large skins (calves, cows, bulls, buffaloes).

There were two main steps in the treatment of skins:

• The "wet" way practiced by the tanners, which meant the tanning and cleaning of the skins, often by the river.

• The "dry" work following the shearing was called corroyage (currying). The tawer eliminated any tatters, then straightened, smoothed, and softened the dry skin.

Two main types of skins were produced—peeled skins, freed of any hair, and covered skins, where the hair or wool had been preserved. 

Sources:

• Claude Lemay, "Fonctions et métiers délaissés", l'Ancêtre, number 281, volume 34, winter 2008, and number 280, volume 34, winter 2007; electronic edition, Société généalogique de Québec (www.sgq.qc.ca/images/_SGQ/R_LAncetre_plus_libre/ENT-FONCTIONS-METIERS-DELAISSES.pdf).

• « Megisserie », Patrimoine culturel immatériel français, Ministère de la Culture, http://www.culture.gouv.fr.