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Combination Strap Chimes/Bells
Before: circa 1915 Saddle chime/bell strap. These bells had great sentimental value to the customer. Since the plating was in poor shape, we decided to just gently clean them and put them on new strap work matching it as close as possible to the original.
Saddle had red wool felt and strap work had imitation stitching along edges.
All that remains of the pinked wool edge along saddle
Bells after being removed from strap and cleaned. As you can see, lots of wear on plating.
New leather and felt pad tacked up and ready for stitching. I used thick 100% Merino wool felt and an antique scallop punch to make the decorative border.
Saddle in the process of being stitched together by hand.
Strapwork prepped and tacked together. Imitation stitching replicated along edges as on the original.
Close up of work, bells are ready to be installed
Finished saddle
After: Completed bells
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