The art of leather braiding dates back to about 4 centuries in Argentina. Raw hide is the primary product that is braided and the art initially began in Rio de La Plata or The River Plate. The leather was used by the gauchos or the native inhabitants, the cowboys from South America. Among the most traditional arts in Argentina is leather braiding.
Leather braiding has been passed down from generations by the gauchos. The unique tradition of manufacturing untanned leather is glorified every time a new piece of leather is braided. Rawhide which is used in leather braiding is completely eco friendly, natural and does not contain any chemical components. It retains all the features of the animal as well as the original color.
Process of leather braiding
The whole process of leather braiding is a difficult and slow one. It is important that every step is followed with care, to ensure a final product of high quality. The leather braiding artisan has to first carefully choose the raw material, i.e. the raw hide. Emphasis on selecting the right kind of raw hide is laid, as usually marks that made on them for numerous reasons, start to show. The longer the artisan spends on this step, the better the final product is. This step also ensures that the leather is delicate and thin which starts to show in the next step.
Tientos in leather braiding
Ideally, colt leather is combined with untanned leather. Colt leather helps develop leather strips, also known as tientos. This forms the initial material used in braiding. Soft and thin leather is important if the products being made are bracelets, necklaces and other such pieces. The tientos or the leather strips are dyed using natural pigments, in order to braid various colors and tones. The process of braiding the leather strips is known as awl, owing to the tool that is used in the process.
The awl process was not very common among the gauchos, as it was a very delicate one. A great deal of skill is required to ensure that the strips are thin and fragile. During the process of making knives, the handles are also cared for in the same way. The artisan has to ensure that there is continuity in the lines of the handle and the blade. If there is perfect alignment between the two, then the end product is considered proportioned and perfect for sale.
