«Sennensattlerei» (Alpine saddlery)

Sennensattlerei (Alpine saddlery) is the term used for the work of the artisans who decorate leather products for farmers, dairymen and their livestock with brass fittings and coloured embroidery. Artisans painstakingly craft straps with bells for bulls, cows and goats, and elements for the traditional costume of dairymen and women, drawing on traditional motifs, figures and ornaments that are characteristic of Alpine farm life. Each Alpine saddler has his or her own ‘handwriting’ which is expressed in his or her way of drawing and engraving. This craft has been practised in Appenzell and in Toggenburg for generations. In the 18^th century, it developed into a trade. From the middle of the 20^th century onwards, with the rise of tourism, artisans started to produce souvenirs and fashion accessories in addition to traditional Alpine saddlery products. These more recent products are inspired by the saddlery items, but have new uses. For example the Alpine or Appenzell belt (‘Chüeligurt’ - decorated with small metal cows), which is decorated with ornaments and figures similar to those on the braces worn in the traditional Alpine dairyman costume, has become iconic. The diverse artisanal skills involved in the trade are strongly linked to other traditions of the region; however, their preservation hinges on a steady flow of innovation and further development.