Softening an antique bear skin?

Hi everybody,

I'm just seeking some advice on an old bear rug that has come in for restoration. It is an Asiatic Black Bear and is probably about 100 years old. The mounted head needs some restoration to the mouth, has some fur loss etc, nothing too taxing. We also need to put a new felt edging and cotton lining on it. The hide is tanned but very fragile in places and seems like it would benefit from being softened somehow before the felt is sewn around the edge. Is there anything that could be used to help to soften it up a little? Tanning oil, softening oil? I would obviously only do a small test patch first, this is just a new issue for me and I wondered if any of you had any experience with anything similar.

Many thanks,
Patrick

 

Thanks George, I wouldn't have thought of that. I'll give it a go.