Bergmannskostuem 13 Jh mit Arschleder und Bergeisen

The miner's apron (german: Arschleder, ''Bergleder'' or ''Fahrleder'') is part of the clothing worn, especially historically, by miners in the

mining Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic ...

industries of German-speaking Europe. Variously called in English a miner's apron, a miner's after-apron, breech leatherBucksch, Herbert (1997). ''Dictionary Geotechnical Engineering'', Vol. 2, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, p. 77, . or miner's leather apron,Pohs, Henry A. (1995). ''The miner's flame light book'', Flame Pub. Co., pp. 107 and 119. it was a leather apron that served to keep the seat of the trousers from wearing out when working or moving around the mine (''Fahrung'') as well as keeping out the cold and moisture when sitting. It also provided protection especially when entering inclined mineshafts. Another advantage was that it stabilised the internal organs from mechanical shock and vibration by acting as a sort of kidney belt. The miner's apron was a triangular or, more rarely, semi-circular piece of leather and was supported by the body belt. In Germany the design of the modern miner's apron is governed by DIN standard 23307 ''Gesäßleder für den Bergbau (Arschleder)''.

History

The mining apron was introduced to German mining regions in the 15th century from the

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

n mining area around Schemnitz (Banská Štiavnica). Early illustrations of it are found on the title page of the "Little Mining Book" (''Bergbüchlein'') by

Ulrich Rülein von Calw Ulrich Rülein von Calw (1465–1523) was a physician, doctor, mathematician and well-known mining engineer. He was also active as a surveying, surveyor, Urban planner, town planner and astrologer and was the mayor () of the mining town of Freiberg ...

(1505) and on the miner's altar of St. Anne's Church in Annaberg (1521).

Georgius Agricola Georgius Agricola (; born Georg Pawer or Georg Bauer; 24 March 1494 – 21 November 1555) was a German Humanist scholar, mineralogist and metallurgist. Born in the small town of Glauchau, in the Electorate of Saxony of the Holy Roman Empire ...

wrote in this book '' De re metallica'' (1556): Permission to wear the miner's apron was only granted to miners and mining officials. Analogous to the

hammer and pick The hammer and pick, rarely referred to as hammer and chisel, is a symbol of mining, often used in heraldry. It can indicate mining, mines (especially on maps or in cartography), or miners, and is also borne as a charge in the coats of arms o ...

, it represented a unifying symbol of miners' status. Later, it was also worn outside work in decorative styles as part of the miner's uniform (''Berghabit'') or parade uniform (''Paradeuniform'') for miners' parades (''Bergparaden''). In events connected with mining customs, this device is also used for the so-called "leather jump" (''Ledersprung''), a form of miners' initiation ceremony in Austria.

Folk art and music

The apron of the miner is incorporated into the design of the wooden smoking figurines and

nutcracker A nutcracker is a tool designed to open nuts by cracking their shells. There are many designs, including levers, screws, and ratchets. The lever version is also used for cracking lobster and crab shells. A decorative version portrays a person w ...

s made in the Ore Mountains. It has also made its way into the mining songs. Thus we read in the last stanza of the version of the mine foremen's song (''Steigerlied'') sung in the Ruhr and

Saar Saar or SAAR has several meanings: People Given name *Saar Boubacar (born 1951), Senegalese professional football player * Saar Ganor, Israeli archaeologist *Saar Klein (born 1967), American film editor Surname * Ain Saar (born 1968), Est ...

Similar uses

In stunt kite flying the leather apron is used especially in power kiting or

kite surfing Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that involves using wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across a water, land, or snow surface. It combines aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wak ...

using powered kites. The pilot sits on a leather apron that protects the seat of his trousers and is hauled by the kite over rough ground (e.g., pastureland).

References

{{Reflist

Literature

* Walter Schellhas: ''Das Arschleder des Bergmanns'', in: Sächsische Heimatblätter Heft 6/1987, pp. 280–281 * Carl Friedrich Richter: ''Neuestes Berg-und Hütten-Lexikon.'' 1st Volume, Kleefeldsche Buchhandlung, Leipzig, 1805

External links