Leather carving

Historically, tools for stamping leather would probably have been made out of bone, but would not have been too different from those used today.

It is used in a similar way to other stamping tools, by holding it vertically over the leather and striking with the rawhide mallet.

There are also a variety of faces that include striped, checked, rounded, smoothed, and crosshatched These tools create a curved impression of a series of short, closely spaced lines.

These tools are used in the usual way, but like the pear shader, may also be tilted to help create the impression of depth where they are used beside a cut.

This step in producing a carved leather article is used to emphasise the design, and is not even necessary in some cases.

The background tool has a crosshatched pattern on its head, which has the effect of significantly darkening the leather it is used on.

When the leather has been properly cased, the swivel knife is used to make the bold cuts that form the backbone of the carved image.

Care must be taken during this step to keep the swivel knife vertical at all times, as any tilt is detrimental to the ability of the leather to be properly stamped later in the carving process.

The Beveler is used by holding it vertically, with the foot of the tool in contact with the leather, and striking it lightly with the rawhide mallet.

The swivel knife is again used to create small, decorative cuts in the design to enhance its appearance.