SALE - All belts $49.99
Our Collection of Unique Handcrafted Accessories
The Collection
- The leather bag collection features a vintage full-bodied Italian cowhide leather with a soft wax finish. The smooth matt finish creates a leather canvas for the exquisitely embossed images taken from the Indigenous art of Roy Thomas. These handcrafted accessories are produced in a family run shop in Toronto. These high quality bags complement the beautiful images from the artwork of Roy Thomas.
- The canvas market totes feature the colourful screen printed images of Roy Thomas artwork. Handcrafted in a small Southwestern Ontario village, these 18 oz canvas bags stay open handsfree for easy packing and the colourful bottom panel provides a waterproof barrier to moisture.
- The belt collection features high quality Italian plaque buckles in a nickel free finish. The Roy Thomas art images are laser etched and blackened to stand out beautifully on the buckles. The full grain vegetable tanned Italian cowhide belt straps are handcrafted in a Toronto workshop. These heavy weight single ply leather straps come in both 35mm dress width and 40mm casual width. AHERNE belts are available in sizes 34/85 to 44/110, and may be resized smaller. Our 40mm antique silver buckles may be purchased separately. All items in the collection makes a great gift ideas.
Roy Thomas - The Artist
Roy Thomas 1949-2004
The Ojibwe artist Roy Thomas resided in Thunder Bay until his untimely death in 2004. Roy was born in 1949 in the deep forest along Pagwachuan Lake, near Caramat in the district of Greenstone Ontario. Roy and his family were forced to settle at Long Lac #58 First Nation in the late 1950’s.
Roy was basically a self-taught artist. He was raised mainly by his grandparents who told him stories. Roy could see these stories and he would use his pointing finger on his grandmother’s back to draw. Grandmother seeing this in her grandson continued to tell him stories. Later the pointing finger was replaced with charcoal from the wood stove and it would move on too other materials when it was affordable. Roy was always guided by the memories of his grandparents and Elders who taught him what to paint.
Roy was taught to have respect for the elements in life and to learn from and respect his Elders. His grandparents named him Ahndek (Crow) after he rescued and cared for an orphaned crow when he was a small boy. The crow monogram accompanies his signature.
Critically acclaimed as one of the most brilliant and prolific members of the Woodland School that began in the early 1960’s, the work of Roy Thomas depicts reflections of the traditional teachings that were such a big part of his life.
“Roy was a very spiritual man. Being raised by grandparents and raised mainly in the bush, he had these wonderful teachings … how to look at things differently…Roy loved life; he never ever forgot where he came from…Never forgot his roots.”
- Louise Thomas
Artist Statement
“I am born an Ahnisnabae (People of the Land) artist. I know how to paint, the spirit of art and our Elders teach me what to paint.
It is not how I paint; it is what I paint that’s important. It is easier to paint experience than knowledge.
The spirit of art teaches me that the paintbrush comes from the hair of an animal and the handle of the paintbrush comes from the tree.
I would like to acknowledge my relatives for their wisdom of invention of the art material.
Being an artist completes my purpose in life, I am forever grateful."
– Roy Thomas
Miigwetch! (Thank You!)