SHAGREEN' is generally understood to mean shark skin dressed and rubbed down smooth or not; but the oriental shagreen, formely in so much repute, consists 1)1 por tions of the skins of horses, asses, camels, and oxen, the part used being strips taken from head to tail, along the center of the back. These strips are prepared by soaking in water, and currying; and when in the proper condition, they are laid on the ground, and the seeds of chenupodium album are sprinkled over them; a board or piece of felt is then placed on the seeds, and by pressure the hard seeds are forced deeply into the skin, which is then hung-to dry. When dry, the seeds are removed by shaking, and the skill pared down with a proper knife nearly, but not quite us low, as the bottom of the depressions caused by the seeds. After this the skin is again soaked, and the parts com pressed by the seeds now rise up and form elevations, which are increased by washing in a solution of salt. The last operation is dyeing them of various colors, green being
the favorite one. Owing to the difference of texture produced by the operations of com pressing by the seeds, paring, etc., the color is taken irregularly; and when dyed green, the material somewhat resembles malachite in appearance when dried and polished. It was at one time a very favorite material in Britain for covering small casesand caskets of various kinds, especially spectacle-cases.
SHAH (Persian, prince, king), the general title of the supreme ruler in Persia, Afghan istan, and other countries of southern and central Asia. The sovereign, however, may, and frequently does, decline the title, asstuniug in its place that of khan (q.v.), an inferior ami,more common appellation. The snow title can also be assumed by any of the shah's sons, and upon ad the princeS of the blood the cognomen shah-zade.h is bestowed,