2018 CLA Live Auction: Quilled Powder Horn Strap by Djuana Tucker

The quillwork design on this powder horn strap is based on eighteenth century Eastern Woodland/Great Lakes style porcupine quill embroidery. The quills are naturally dyed with indigo, Osage orange, and madder, and they are sewn onto the strap using the zigzag and outline techniques. The strap is 36" long and 1 1/2" wide. The leather is smoked, braintanned, and walnut dyed by Andy Ruffner. The strap is lined with linen and has leather reinforced ends, with two 12" leather laces on each end. This piece has a $425.00 retail value. 

Djuana (pronounced doo WAH nah) Tucker has been creating porcupine quill embroidery pieces since 2006. She refers to catalogs of 18th century museum collections and photographs of original artwork for inspiration. She uses natural dyes to color her quills and is constantly researching to make her creations as historically accurate as possible. 

Djuana does quillwork demonstrations and workshops at living history events, and she has pieces for sale through the CLA website. Custom orders are always welcome. Follow her on Facebook to see the pieces she makes from start to finish and check out the instructional videos on her Facebook video channel.

Djuana has been a loyal supporter of the CLA Live Auction
Djuana Tucker
djuana70@yahoo.com
618-975-8897

Text by Djuana Tucker with photos by David Wright

22nd CLA Annual Show and Meeting

Friday, August 17, 2018

Show opens at 8:00 am until 7:00 pm

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Show opens at 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

Members only (Non-members may join at the show for a prorated membership fee of $20.00.) Location - Hyatt Hotel, Grand Ball Room, Lexington Convention Center 400 West Vine Street Lexington, KY 

Hunting Horn and Pouch by Tom GrecoHunting Horn and Pouch by Tom Greco

This hunting set consists of a banded screw tip horn with leather strap, a leather pouch with decorative welt, a flint wallet, lathe turned cleaning tools, an antler measure, pan brush and vent pick. This entire set exhibits close attentional to detail and the pride in workmanship that mark all Tom Greco products.

The horn is medium sized with a nice warm color with two white bands. The bands have fine molding lines.  The turned antler screw tip shows excellent lathe work. The hand worked spout plug is interesting in that plug has sealing grooves for grease and the tang echos the pattern found on the welt of the hunting bag.

The Hunting bag itself  is 10 inches long and 8 inches deep, It is a soft brown leather with a flapped pocket covered by the bag flap and a second interior pocket.  This bag is set off by its careful design and workmanship.  The welting carved border is very attractive.  The design of the bag extensions that mount the D rings for the horn strap are especially well done and well thought out.  The strap is leather with a brass buckle and a turned antler vent pick and pan brush attached.  The brush and pick and the measure on the bag have the same black and white woven cords for attachment. Two wooden beads set off the cordage.

Inside the pouch are some classy accoutrements. There is a flint wallet that is sized to also hold a set of the Greco turned brass and steel cleaning jag and bullet puller in 54 caliber.  I have one of these sets and recommend them.    Also there is a loading block in the same caliber.  I sure Tom will trade them out for another caliber if you prefer.

Tom Greco is a Woodbury trained artist and this set exemplifies  the high end of the Woodbury style.  I find this pouch very appealing.  It reproduces the work of a professional cordwainer or saddle maker.  I also like bags that look like they’re stitched up on the frontier around campfires but this bag and horn has more refined look and feel and brings to mind those successful settlers along the Cumberland Valley with their Jacob Young or Thomas Simpson rifles.

Tom Greco has been a reliable and regular supporter and of the CLA Auction. He is a regular at the Woodbury rifle and knife classes. 

Tom Greco may be contacted at; flintlock52@yahoo.com

Text by H Ahlers with photos by H Ahlers

Jon David Laubach

Jon David Laubach, noted gunsmith and craftsmen, passed away on July 6, 2018. He was surrounded by his family at his home in Barhamsville, Virginia.  

Jon studied horticulture at Penn State University prior to serving in the Vietnam War. Jon was in the Navy aboard the Destroyer USS WALKE DD723 as a pilot search and rescue swimmer. After his service he completed the gunsmiths program at Trinidad State.  

He began his career at Colonial Williamsburg's Gun Smith Shop. It was there that he educated tourists on the intricacies of early gunsmithing techniques. Later in his career, Jon moved behind the scenes, where he produced the hand tools used daily by the Craftsmen in Colonial Williamsburg.  

Jon engaged in teaching his skills and expertise to anyone who had an interest in colonial era weapons. His shop doors were always open. Those that have met Jon, know his talent was only matched by his humble nature.
Jon was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice of 35 years; son Christopher (Liz), daughters Cheryl (Christopher) Antal and Rebecca (Cain) Brooks. He will be remembered and deeply missed by his grandchildren and to all those whose lives he touched. 

Best Regards, Chris Laubach

Eternal rest grant unto Jon, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

From the Contemporary Makers book by Robert Weil.

Photos supplied by Robert Weil with copy by Chris Laubach.

The Brilliance of Bruce Horne

Photos by Robert Weil from his archives.