Working with leather
Falconry, like any other skill, requires certain equipment. Considering that it is very specific, there was no way to get to it at that time, at least not in an original form, so I was forced to improvise. I remade work gloves, cut up old leather goods and hand sewed everything I needed.
I once read somewhere that “every falconer must know how to make at least a minimum of basic equipment to be a falconer”. Believe me, there is a lot of truth in that, falconry is a multidisciplinary hunting skill, which in addition to knowledge of working with the bird, includes certain craft knowledge and skills of working with hands, I assure you that.
Despite technology and modern materials, there are things in falconry that have been irreplaceable for centuries. Natural leather, from which most falconry equipment is made, has retained its place in use for many reasons, and this fact proves the primordial connection between nature, natural materials and man.
I have been developing my skill of working with leather for years, and that through the most difficult way of “error and trial”, which additionally gave me the opportunity to gain some knowledge beyond the official work techniques that are learned and practiced in the Sarak trade. I spent thousands of hours experimenting, doing unimaginable things, but always with a touch of artistic expression out of some inexplicable need. I imposed on myself the opinion that every piece of equipment should work as well as possible both aesthetically and functionally. Although I already had experience and talent in carving, painting and sculpting, I began to decorate my equipment with various elements of wood, bone and horn.
The combination of those elements further inspired me because they are basically the fruits of a supreme creator, with which I changed the form with the skills of carving, creating art objects of useful value. It was a long and arduous journey that is still going on.
I currently work on equipment owned and used by falconers all over the world. I still stick to manual work because it gives me the opportunity to express my creativity to the maximum, develop my imagination and give my handicrafts a personal touch to each individual.
I believe that everything related to falconry deserves serious attention. There are numerous reasons for this.
There is evidence that this ancient skill is over two thousand years old, and despite the modernization and progress of mankind, it has survived until today!
Do you need anything more than that?
