The pen has a place. So does the hand that holds it.

Gubbio is cut from Crazy Horse cowhide — the same family of oiled, waxed leather as our Ferrara case. It is the leather that scuffs on purpose: run a thumb across it and the mark lifts the colour, then settles back. A desk object made of it does not stay new. It keeps a record of the work done on it.

The difference is the channel stitched along the right edge. A pen lays flat in it, held by two solid brass rivets, so the one tool you reach for most is never underneath the paper. Underneath, the base is dense microfibre — it grips the desk and lets the mouse glide.

Why you'll love it

• Crazy Horse cowhide — oiled full-grain that develops a patina instead of wearing out
• Built-in pen holder — a stitched leather channel, not a loop glued on afterwards
• Non-slip microfibre back — stays put on wood, glass and laminate
• Low friction surface — optical and laser mice track cleanly across it
• Solid brass rivets — two of them, set through the leather rather than pressed into a lining
• Ages with the desk — every mark is yours, and none of them are damage

Product specifications

• Material: Crazy Horse full-grain cowhide, oiled finish
• Back: dense non-slip microfibre
• Size: 280 × 230 mm (28 × 23 cm)
• Pen channel: stitched, secured with two brass rivets
• Edges: stitched with contrast thread

About real leather

Crazy Horse leather is finished with a heavy wax that moves when the surface is pressed. Scratches lighten, then darken again as the wax settles — this is the discoloration effect the tannery designs in on purpose. Grain, tone and natural scars vary from piece to piece. None of it is a defect; it is the reason the material is worth having.

Care

Wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth. Treat once or twice a year with a neutral leather balm to keep the wax alive. Keep it out of prolonged direct sunlight and away from radiators.