The "Holy Grail" of cue cases! I'm Smiling!

I had no idea Fellini ever made cases like this. The history on these cases would be interesting to know. They are so elaborate that it would seem to invite skepticism.
 
Felini's

They have to be the rarest of the rare. Whoever did the cases not only did pristine stamping but also spent a great amount of time just figuring the layout allowing for stretching and shrinkage of the leather. Its obvious old school design and looking closely at the cases tells me a lacquer based (probably Neat Lac) finish was either sponged or brushed on. This finish has a tendency to amber over time and what your get is what you see on these cases. I'll send Ron Ross a link to these beauties to see if he can recognize anything related to the tooling that will give more background on who did the work. Ron is a master at ID'ing others work.

Great cases!
 
How's this look for patina. You are a true nit and it's people like you that have motivated me not to post much anymore. The cases are definitely old and I really don't need your approval to tell me so. I asked for info if people had it and am open to that, but babble really doesn't help anything. I have spoken to Bob personally about these cases and I do know some of the history, but would like to know for sure who did the tooling. By the way it's Holy, not Holly, it's not christmas yet.

P1020346_2.jpg


Doug

Doug,

Please accept my apology. My comments were certainly not helpful, And I was indeed being a "NIT" Those really are best described as the Holy Grail! what else could you say about them?

Sorry Doug,
Jayman.
 
You gotta be kidding me! :yikes::yikes::yikes:
Those are just crazy nice! I had no idea there were Fellini cases like that. Incredible! :bow-down:
You can go ahead & send the belt buckle latch case to me, I'll take it. :groucho:



















You win....... :thumbup2:
 
Thanks guys for all the compliments and input on the cases. They are definitely at the center of my vintage case collection.
There are really only a couple other cases I would like to find and then I can call it quits :rolleyes:, Well maybe!

Thanks again AZ,

Doug

PS: Walker, are you ready to spit out one of those tooled Engle's cases yet?
 
Last edited:
Hey Eric, thanks for the compliments and inquiries. I have had many cases (and still have a few) and can tell you one thing for sure, the cases are definitely old. The gentleman that owned them said he had them for around twenty years and that they were several years old when he got them. The question really is, who did the tooling and braiding? I can say that the cases are two of the most unique cases that I have ever seen and were definitely done by a true artisan. The fact that they don't have an actual seam and have the leather braiding makes them very, very special in my book. I would love to know the whole story behind them, but for now I'm just going to be happy they're in my safe. I appreciate all the compliments and comments and would welcome anyone to share anything that they may know about these cases.

Thanks,

Doug


they are just amazing , like a barn find of a Dusenberg with no miles-please dont sell them, cause there aint no more of those to be forund-congrats!!!!!!
 
Hey Eric, thanks for the compliments and inquiries. I have had many cases (and still have a few) and can tell you one thing for sure, the cases are definitely old. The gentleman that owned them said he had them for around twenty years and that they were several years old when he got them. The question really is, who did the tooling and braiding? I can say that the cases are two of the most unique cases that I have ever seen and were definitely done by a true artisan. The fact that they don't have an actual seam and have the leather braiding makes them very, very special in my book. I would love to know the whole story behind them, but for now I'm just going to be happy they're in my safe. I appreciate all the compliments and comments and would welcome anyone to share anything that they may know about these cases.

Thanks,

Doug

My advice would be to put the pictures up on the LeatherWorkers.net forum and let the folks there see if they recognize the work. You could get lucky and the guy who did them might be a member.

In any event the cases are very nicely designed and the overall look is superb.
 
Last edited:
These cases are just great, whether they are 100% Fellini or not does not change the fact that they are great. :)
 
Cases

Hey Doug,
Beautiful cases...
I was this close>< to pulling the trigger on them...
You got yourself something very special... CONGRATS...
I have one super special one left in my collection, I'll PM you some pictures..
Best,
Ken Kerner
 
great cases

When I was playing pool backin the 70's around Austin at Moyer's and in San Antonio around Banana's ther were a couple of people that had leather workers do a job on their fellini cases. I had one that was tooled by someone outside of Austin, but it was all basket stamped. I got rid of it with a schon cue that I got in 1979 or 1980. These are the prime example of what someone is able to do with their hands.
Great cases how could you get any better.
I have a saddle maker working on one for me now and it will be nice but I don't think it will be this nice and most assuradly not this special.
He holy grail for sure.
Great find

Percy
 
When I was playing pool backin the 70's around Austin at Moyer's and in San Antonio around Banana's ther were a couple of people that had leather workers do a job on their fellini cases. I had one that was tooled by someone outside of Austin, but it was all basket stamped. I got rid of it with a schon cue that I got in 1979 or 1980. These are the prime example of what someone is able to do with their hands.
Great cases how could you get any better.
I have a saddle maker working on one for me now and it will be nice but I don't think it will be this nice and most assuradly not this special.
He holy grail for sure.
Great find

Percy

I think that this is a great example of what can be achieved by going outside the box. It's kind of funny but most "cue case makers" are not leather workers by trade or hobby and most leather workers don't do cue cases. Probably because most leather workers do more general things that they are commissioned to do, things that will sell to more people, or they are not into pool.

I like the idea of sending interiors to leather workers and just letting them go nuts doing what they want to do. As long as the underlying cue protection is taken care of then the exterior can be whatever.

I think that it definitely could result in some fantastic pieces.

On the "to do" list.
 
I think that this is a great example of what can be achieved by going outside the box. It's kind of funny but most "cue case makers" are not leather workers by trade or hobby and most leather workers don't do cue cases. Probably because most leather workers do more general things that they are commissioned to do, things that will sell to more people, or they are not into pool.

I like the idea of sending interiors to leather workers and just letting them go nuts doing what they want to do. As long as the underlying cue protection is taken care of then the exterior can be whatever.

I think that it definitely could result in some fantastic pieces.

On the "to do" list.


John, I seriously wish that you would stop advertising in this thread. Anyone that has an interest in true classic cases really doesn't care if you can rip off the original artist and make some yourself, obviously that's already been done several times. Take your GTF cases and go play in someone else's ballpark, I really don't care.

Doug
 
When I was playing pool backin the 70's around Austin at Moyer's and in San Antonio around Banana's ther were a couple of people that had leather workers do a job on their fellini cases. I had one that was tooled by someone outside of Austin, but it was all basket stamped. I got rid of it with a schon cue that I got in 1979 or 1980. These are the prime example of what someone is able to do with their hands.
Great cases how could you get any better.
I have a saddle maker working on one for me now and it will be nice but I don't think it will be this nice and most assuradly not this special.
He holy grail for sure.
Great find

Percy

Thanks Percy, I appreciate your input. Post some pics when you get your case.

Doug
 
Back
Top