***** LAST UPDATED 14 November 2023 *****
Handmade Leather Belts by Rob Steinke Master Saddler & Harness Maker
Fed up with rubbish belts? You know the ones usually given away free with a pair of jeans?
If so then PLEASE NOTE these belts are cut, prepared, stitched & finished entirely by hand using specialist tools, several of which are over 100 years old & still in daily use and are not included in the sale.
Available via my Etsy shop: Click on this link to view my Etsy shop: www.ArtizanStudio.etsy.com
The belts are cut from 4mm thick Sedgwick English tanned bridle butt, the sharp edges are taken off then dyed is applied to the edge of the leather. A heated iron is then used to impart an attractive line along the length of the belt.
I make 3 widths of belts. 1 inch, 1 1/4 inch & 1 1/2 inch.
The solid brass non-rusting buckle, cast in an English foundry, is then hand stitched on using the traditional 2 needle method. Finally the makers name is stamped on the underneath of the belt.
Cut, Prepared, Stitched & Finished by Hand
My favourite round knife. Although I have several others that I bought new, I found this secondhand one at a harness & carriage sale and fell in love with it. That was nearly 50 years ago.....and still going strong!
Here I am skiving the end of the belt before stitching the buckle on by hand.
The belt before and after stitching the buckle on by hand. The yellow thread is coated in beeswax (the square chunk of wax beside the buckle) before using the sharp pointed awl to make the holes.
Stitching marks are made by the pricking iron ( a bit like a comb) and the dark lines that run along the belt are burnt in with the double bladed tool seen in the picture.
My tool board holding an array of hand tools and thread for handstitching the buckles and fittings onto belts and horse drivind harness.
Horsebrass Martingales - Both Traditional & Exclusive Designs
Our part Clydesdale Cob, Mr. Tibbs, who I used to show in riding, carriage driving & in-hand classes. This farm harness was decorated with special martingales & chain carriers.
I have now added my martingale designs (not the sets of harness) to the Artizan Studio range.
My designs are available on my Etsy Shop;
/www.etsy.com/ie/shop/ArtizanStudio
Each design is carefully cut out by hand and a contrasting inner piece of coloured leather is then machined to the solid backing hide. A narrow strap is then stitched to the top to hold a horse brass. Brass ornaments are fitted to compliment the shape of each martingale.
Martingales are sold both with a solid horsebrass or on its own so that the buyers own brass can easily be fitted.
I use several coloured patent leathers with a gloss finish to decorate these martingales, blue, red, yellow and black.
Examples on Etsy click;
/www.etsy.com/ie/listing/1459189987/
They are equally suited to be hung on a wall or on a horse.
I can also work to a customers own spec with regard to the shape of their own horsebrass.
*** COMING VERY SOON *** Carriage Driving Spares Cases & Number Holders
As a Harness Maker and avid carriage driver I have always specialised in making spares cases with matching competitor's number holders. Therefore, I am adding these to my Artizan Studio catalogue, available via my Etsy shop.
More details will be posted here soon so please do come back for more pics, speciation's and pictures.
Available with the following options;
LEATHER; Black or Brown
BUCKLES; Brass or Chrome
HORSE SIZE; Pony, Cob, Horse
STYLE; Standard or Deluxe with carrying handle
TURNOUT; Single, Pair, Tandem, Team
PRICES; To follow
To compliment the spares cases I make matching competitors number holders.
***PLEASE NOTE***
Because of high demand in the spring I would advise drivers to order early as I will be making up these cases during the autumn and winter months before the shows begin.
MORE PICTURES TO FOLLOW SOON