Luis Ortega's Braiding in the California Tradition - NEW

SIGNED by authors

by Chuck Stormes and Don Reeves

Foreword by Mehl Lawson

University of Oklahoma Press

160 pages

A highly sought after book that is now out of print and becoming increasingly difficult to source, this title details the life of the famous rawhide braider Luis B Ortega. From childhood to legend, this book chronicles the development of both the man and his trade, with numerous color photographs of his work and black and white photographs of his life. 138 pages, including a glossary of terms and an appendix with dates of publication for Ortega’s Western Horseman articles.

More than a biography, the book is a richly illustrated overview of this expert braider’s art. Some 100 illustrations, 70 in color, offer close-ups of Ortega’s work that depict the intricacy of his reins, quirts, and other pieces. From eight-strand reatas to figure-eight hobbles, the beauty, functionality, and painstaking care of his output shine through in every piece.

This elegant volume allows readers to better understand the Hispanic foundations of the American cowboy as it portrays the work of a man recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Master Traditional Artist. It will stand as a definitive work on Ortega and a tribute to his craft.

Asking 385