Hand-Tooled Leather Horse Head Belt Buckle

This item is an oval-shaped, hand-tooled leather belt buckle featuring a central relief of a horse's head in profile. The buckle displays a rich multi-toned color palette, utilizing shades of warm tan for the primary horse motif and flanking floral elements, complemented by a deep forest green background and a dark brown outer border. The construction involves a layered leather approach, with thick perimeter stitching in a contrasting yellow-gold thread that provides structural integrity and aesthetic framing. The horse's mane and facial features are intricately carved, demonstrating folk-art craftsmanship common in Western-style leatherwork from the late 20th century, likely the 1970s or 1980s. To the left and right of the central medallion are carved floral motifs resembling wild roses or poppies. The condition appears well-preserved with a natural aged patina; however, slight scuffing and minor surface wear are visible along the outer edges, consistent with moderate use. There are no visible maker's marks on the front, suggesting it may be a custom artisan piece or a high-quality hobbyist creation. The tooling depth indicates a sturdy piece of saddle-weight leather bound to a rigid internal or rear support structure typical of decorative belt hardware.