Pablo Lozano – 2018 Leather Show
Rawhide Braider, Tandil, Argentina
Born in Buenos Aires, Lozano’s family tradition tied him into the cattle heritage of Argentina. Started studying rawhide braiding at the age of 15 with his mentor, the late Don Luis Alberto Flores.
Subsequently, he became an instructor at the Heritage Center in Tandil, where he permanently resides. Lozano, a career rawhide braider, has schooled and mentored several aspiring rawhide braiders from his studio in Tandil. He believes in the concept of apprenticeship as a means to educate and safeguard this cultural legacy. Lozano represented Argentina in the first international rawhide braiding summit in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Lozano frequently participates in exhibits and seminars in Argentina and the United States to promote traditional rawhide braiding. His work has been awarded “Best of Show” several times by a panel of his peers.
In 2004 Lozano and longtime friend and rawhide braider Armando Deferrari were invited to participate in a rawhide braiding seminar sponsored by the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Subsequently, Lozano started studying the application and function of the tools of the Cowboy trade and in 2008 applied for membership to the TCAA. He was bestowed the honor to become one of the first international members of the organization. Lozano’s rawhide braidwork have been featured in Range Magazine, Western Horseman Magazine, NE Western Magazine in France, and most recently on the cover of the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal.
Lozano has participated as instructor in braiding seminars sponsored by the TCAA and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; during the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, and during seminars sponsored by the Idaho Commission of the Arts in Boise & Salmon, Idaho. Furthermore, Lozano has hosted in his studio several braiders from Australia, Germany and the United States willing to travel to Argentina to learn about rawhide braiding and the Gaucho culture.
During the Academy of western Artists (AWA) 20th Anniversary Lozano was bestowed the Will Rogers Award for Best Braider of the Year for 2015.
Pablo Lozano Pieces Featured in the 2018 Brinton Leather Show
The fancy 5/8 inch rawhide bosal features a rawhide twisted foundation with 20-plait braided body in natural rawhide. The nose button showcases an old technique in a twisted pattern, known by seamen as “crowning” as stated in the book Luis Ortega’s Rawhide Artistry by Chuck Stormes & Don Reeves. However, the inspiration came about after sighting rawhide braiding by Maria Leyva’s at the Carriage Museum in Santa Barbara, CA, circa 1910’s.
The heel button features some fanciful braidwork of Lozano’s creation and the maker’s stamp in the heel. The bosal features a functional Hermann Oak Leather hanger connected to a twisted rawhide “fiador” handcrafted with 2 strands of softened rawhide. This piece features braided buttons at the ends, and is embellished with a rawhide braided button in a herringbone pattern. The “fiador” features a functional closure with a loop. It should be noted that to create this “fiador” Lozano braided a 6 meter long round braid. Price: $ 5,800.00
Lozano combined a functional design, excellent craftsmanship and his own techniques to fabricate this sets of rawhide hobbles, without using metal ring. This style of hobbles were popular with the Gaucho of yesteryears whenever starting a horse or introducing one to the hobbles. Because their width, thickness and robust softened rawhide didn’t hurt the horses hide. This hobbles are double and featured an imbedded rawhide stitching for durability. The braided centerpiece incorporates the two folded buttons for easy use and functional closure. Price: $ 2,200.00
The traditional design belt in 1½” was handcrafted with softened rawhide and lined with Hermann Oak leather and hand-sewn for durability, with a natural color edge for contrast. Lozano’s excellent craftsmanship is highlighted by the myriad of techniques utilized to create the rawhide appliques resembling leaf and vine pattern in the fabrication of this elegant rawhide belt. The belt features an imbedded rawhide stitching for durability. Fits between a size 34” and 38” depending on the style of buckle utilized. The belt bears the maker’s stamp in the reverse side. Price: $ 3,500.00