Right Tommie, this is better way to put it. Floral tooling is something that is traditional to leather decorating.
The story goes that Portuguese and Spanish explorers would record the flora and fauna by scribing and tooling the images onto leather and that made it's way into North American western gear in the 1800s.
I also agree that something could be done using cue inlay designs combined with traditional floral tooling.
Actually, if I remember correctly didn't Marc Turcasso (Matcase on AZ) already do something like this for Skins?
Here is that super hot case built by Marc -
Of course this one is showing a more abstract design than just traditional tooling but it shows that it can work doing inlay representations along with flowery flowing carving.
It doesn't take Miss Cleo to predict that the coming years are going to see case making taken to levels that approach cue making in it's artistry and creativity. I have more than 1000 images spanning 70+ years of cue case making and hundreds more spanning more than 100 years of case making in general and I have to say that people now are doing things with cue cases that are well advanced in terms of construction and design. And I am not just talking about our shop. Marc, Rusty, Garth, Brian Bonner, Whitten, these are a few who are pushing the envelope. Grumpy Cowboy (Del) - I love it - think about getting a case ten years ago, you had very limited choices in terms of design and construction. Me and Jack Justis both have collaborated with top notch toolers, me with Chas Clements and Jack with Ron Ross to being their incredible work to our canvas, not unlike a cue maker who works with Sandra Brady or some other top scrimshaw artist.
So - Jamie, Tommie, and everyone else, the only limitations are time and money because these days you have so many case makers who have great imagination and ability and are up to the challenge.
In my research there are very few other sports which have such a wide variety of custom cases. In fact, I would say that there is no other sport which does. Archery quivers comes closest perhaps. Maybe gun cases? Fly fishing cases? No, only pool has so many case makers making so many varieties. So enjoy the fact that pool has one more thing that makes it special.
And speaking of special I think that soon an announcement will be made that should be a pleasant surprise to case fans. I will leave that to the originator of the idea to make that announcement.
;-)
Thank you everyone for the great comments on the case and the ideas. I also want to thank all the patrons of this art form. Without you we wouldn't be able to spend time exploring these themes. Roy Malott has invested a HUGE amount of money and creativity allowing me to grow as a case maker, Will Prout, Ralf Ganz, Tom Tillman, and all the others who have bought our cases and spent time telling me their ideas and granting me their patience are what really drives this explosion in great case making. I know that my colleagues have similar experiences where their customers give them the freedom to create.
So collectors and customers - I appreciate you and on behalf of my colleagues, WE appreciate you!!!!
