GUEST: So this is a leather picture of a horse that was made, um, by Al Stohlman.

And my great-grandfather started working with leather, and he realized there were no good tools.

So, he created some leather-working tools in partnership with Al Stohlman.

And they kind of went around and toured and taught people how to use the leather tools.

APPRAISER: Al Stohlman is considered to be one of the pioneers or the godfather... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: of leathercraft tooling.

He's born in California.

As a kid, he-he likes drawing pictures of the Pacific Northwest animals.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: World War II is about to happen, he signs up for the Army, and he's sent overseas to the South Pacific... GUEST: Oh.

APPRAISER: and is in New Guinea, GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: and sees locals that are using leather as artistry... GUEST: Oh APPRAISER: and really became interested in it.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: And he comes back after about 40 months, moves to California... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: and ends up living in a chicken coop, taking care of horses.

GUEST: (chuckles) APPRAISER: And as a means to try and generate money, he's taken this newfound skill in tooling leather and takes plain saddles, starts embellishing them and dressing them up with his fine tooling... GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: selling them at auction to make a profit.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: It’s widely recorded that in 1952, he created a massive leatherwork picture of a palomino horse that caught the eye... GUEST: (chuckling) APPRAISER: of the owner of the craft tool company.

GUEST: Uh-huh, okay.

APPRAISER: And the owner, which is your great-grandfather?

GUEST: Correct, yes.

APPRAISER: Was so impressed that he hired Al Stohlman... GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: to work in partnership with him to create leathercrafting tools... GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: And to write articles and publications about leathercraft.

Now, I wonder if this is the 1952 picture that's referred to of the palomino horse with the decorative saddle.

GUEST: (laughing): Sure looks like it.

APPRAISER: What he did was he created these fantastic tools.

If I put it up to here, you can see the type of marking it leaves on the leather.

GUEST: Oh, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Here’s a perfect example of a crescent shape.

And if I take this, and I were to apply pressure to the leaves... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: I can create the crescent-shaped veining.

This is a shining example of great craftsmanship.

Mm.

And if this were in a retail setting, we could easily see someone putting $30,000 to $50,000 on it.

GUEST: Wow.

Wow.

(laughing): That's a lot!

That's... wow.

(laughs) APPRAISER: It certainly is.

GUEST: (catches breath, sighs) APPRAISER: I mean, it-it is just a masterpiece.

GUEST: Yeah.

I mean, that's pretty awesome.

APPRAISER: I would feel comfortable putting an insurance value of about $75,000 on it.

GUEST: Okay, wow.

All right.