Hex Pouch by Steven Lalioff

This pouch is not a reproduction of an original but was inspired by a profusely hex decorated Pennsylvanian powder horn that I saw many years ago. The stamps I used are all based upon original decorative elements I have found on original pieces.

The leather I used to create this pouch has a "colorful" past. It was tanned in Japan during the late 1930's or early 1940's. It was purchased with occupation dollars by a serviceman stationed in Tokyo. Word came that the occupation dollars were to be phased out and soon to be worthless, so the serviceman went on a buying spree throughout Tokyo and bought the most valuable commodities he could find with all the currency he had. Luckily for me, he purchased a quantity of vegetable tanned calf skins and shipped them back home in a large, airtight, aluminum tube...and there within they sat for 60 years until he gifted them to me. I have tried to be very judicious with what I make of these skins, (I've only cut into one so far). Some of the skins still have Japanese military tannery labels on the back. I intend to preserve those labeled skins whole. I'm not positive how the military utilized these skins but they are of the very highest quality of leather I have ever seen and are a pleasure to work with.... after 60+ years are still perfectly preserved.

The horn is an original, I am not certain of it's origin. Judging by it's size and style I would say it's circa 1830's. It was carried so much that it is almost worn through on the backside. The plug is walnut and the strap knob is a circa 1800 brass furniture pull. I have dubbed the dot design, "punktated".....as in punctuated. S.L.

Photos by Karen Ambercrombie.