Holster- Rawhide Painted

Holster- Rawhide Painted

This unique Holster- Rawhide Painted will be a colorful addition to your collection!  The crafter created it from  a single piece Rawhide and cut the top flap to have a serrated edge.  He then decorated it by painting geometric designs all the way around it using Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue Powdered Pigment Paint. On one side the crafter added 4 inch long Braintanned Deerskin Leather fringe and a twisted Braintanned Deersking Leather Lacing belt loop to the back.

The Holster measures 15″ long (not including the fringe) and 5.5″ wide at the widest point.  A previous owner used this Holster so it does show some wear, but it remains in usable condition.

One of a Kind.

Painted rawhide holsters draw from two long-standing traditions: the practical development of early frontier holsters and the Indigenous art of painted rawhide, often known as parfleche work. In the 1800s, makers designed holsters to protect a handgun while riding or traveling, and they shifted from saddle-mounted carriers to belt-worn designs as needs changed. At the same time, many Plains and Plateau makers created stiff rawhide cases and decorated them with bold geometric designs painted in natural pigments, a style they used for knife sheaths, bow cases, quivers, and storage envelopes. When these traditions came together, artisans crafted a small number of painted rawhide holsters that offered rigid protection and distinctive artwork reflecting cultural identity. As leather gained popularity for holster construction, makers produced far fewer painted rawhide examples, which makes surviving pieces rare and highly collectible today.

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