LEATHER CRAFT

Leather craft or Sarac is an ancient craft. The term Sarac is of Turkish origin meaning a craftsman who produces various leatherware including equipment for horses. Equestrian equipment has been produced as long as humans have used horses for riding and drafting. A report was found from the medieval period in Serbia that this kind of equipment was produced by master leather craftsmen and saddlers A Sarac craftsperson makes different objects of leather, for instance: horse equipment, belts, saddler-bags, rifles, and knitted whips. The Sarac craft utilizes many different knives, moulds, scissors, blades, and punches for production. The process of leather preparation and manufacture evolved over time. At first, craftspeople did it by themselves, later other specialized craftspeople took over its production, and finally leather was manufactured in factories rather than by hand. In the middle of 20th century and after the Second World War, due to the modernization of agriculture and production of plastic materials the craft became nearly extinct. Handmade objects cannot match industrial products anymore, the latter being considerably cheaper on the market. The last skilled sarac from Vrsac produced harnesses for a team of horses back in 1975. Later on he shifted to produce other fancy goods including belts, necklaces, razor cases, dog collars, knives, and pistol holders.