handtooled
Handtooled refers to ornamental decoration on leather that is produced entirely by hand rather than by mechanical or electrical tooling. The term is most often applied to leathercraft and saddlery, where patterns are outlined, cut, and shaped using handheld punches, knives, and stamping tools to create low-relief designs.
Historically, handtooled leatherwork has roots in Western saddlery and other crafts, where durability and decoration were
The standard process begins with transferring a pattern onto vegetable-tanned leather, then outlining the design with
Common tools include the swivel knife, bevelers, pear shader, backgrounders, cam or self-edge stamps, modeling spoons,
Styles vary from traditional Western tooling with floral or geometric patterns to more contemporary motifs. Handtooled
Care and preservation involve conditioning to prevent drying and cracking, avoiding excessive moisture, and storing away