Description
Forget Hermes, Prada and Judith Lieber – THIS is a truly one-of-a-kind, custom made fashion clutch! The judges at Santa Fe Indian Market thought this handbag worthy of a coveted award ribbon, and we think it is chic, elegant, sturdy, unusual, practical, and unbelievably beautiful.
Ray exquisitely hand tooled and textured the leather. The bag is embellished with sterling silver and natural coral elements, made by Ray’s gifted wife, superstar jeweler Jennifer Curtis.
How’s that for a stellar collaboration? One of the reasons this clutch is a real knockout is the talent and expertise of the artists. Every bit is fashioned by hand, and flawlessly so.
Raised floral and leaf patterns swirl and swoop in amazing detail across a minutely textured surface. The all-over, minuscule cross-hatching (all done by Ray’s gifted and patient hand) adds visual harmony and strengthens the leather’s surface.
Jennifer’s celebrated silver work decorates the leather. A curvy row of little silver beads, hand stamped in a sort of wheel pattern, flows over the flap’s edge, following the ergonomic contour.
Centering the flap, a classic, impeccably chiseled concho form, in silver and natural red coral, repeats the curves, masks the clasp, and adds a luminous contrast to the dark leather.
Smaller “concho” button forms, with smaller red coral, placed as if they were the centers of a flower, are placed toward the top. More silver conchos, with and without coral, adorn the other side of the bag.
Altogether, there are eight smaller concho forms, plus the large clasp piece, and 17 little beads.
Every aspect of this capacious, remarkable purse has been fashioned to the same high standard: the interior is entirely lined in ruby-toned suede buckskin.
The detail of each hand-tooled leaf and petal is really amazing, and varies with the plant species. Every edge is tightly braided and finished.
Ray is well-known and highly sought-after for his fine, hand made bolo cords. Jennifer is known as “the finest woman jeweler, working.”
A prize-winning prize for the discerning collector of fine leather work, fine jewelry, fine fashion, and spectacular artistry.
