Tool Portrait
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
SABEL Saddlery has commissioned a series of portraits inspired by the reliance of an artisan on their tools.
For the craftsman, tools are the conduit between thought, hand and material. Poor quality tools don't necessarily preclude good work, but its production is made more difficult. Good quality tools ease the passage between intention and outcome.
Although once commonplace in pre-industrialised Britain, saddler's tools are now somewhat of a rarity. Sometimes surprising in their apparent simplicity – the nuances of their design and personalisation gives an insight into both the craft and the craftsman.
Manual saddlery tools are uncompromising – as well as an intimate knowledge of leather, they demand of the maker specific skills to use, sharpen and maintain; arcane knowledge that – despite the internet – is still best learned from a master.
The 1” Wad Punch is the second portrait in the series.
The tools have been photographed against a crimson backdrop in a style familiar to fans of celebrity, as they are the tangible stars of the show.
1. Double Head Knife
Image © Colin Coutts
No re-use or re-posting of this image is possible (online or offline) without the specific permission of the photographer unless it is credited to © Colin Coutts and there is a link to both the photographer's website - www.colincoutts.com and that of www.sabelsaddlery.com
