"Quirt" by Armando Deferrari

This California-style quirt, inspired by the late Luis Ortega, has a 24-plait body over a six-plait rawhide core with multiple buttons and intricate fid work. The wrist strap consists of two 14-plait Trenza Patria (Argentine flat braid) and gaucho buttons. Deferrari created the doubled and stitched softened rawhide leather popper, and adorned it with a two-strand rawhide appliqué in a Trenza de Pelo (hair’s breadth braid) and a border stitching.

The handle was created utilizing 72 strands of rawhide braided in a fid work technique. Two additional segments along the body of this quirt were embellished utilizing 62 and 64 strands of rawhide. Also incorporated are numerous appliques in Contra Mondonguillo (counterclockwise braid) as well as gaucho and herringbone buttons.

The Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition will be available for viewing through November 17, 2024. Ownership of piece transfers to the buyer at time of purchase. Piece will stay on display in the exhibition until November 17, 2024. Shipment will then be arranged with the buyer and buyer is responsible for all shipping fees.

Please note: Buyers shipping or picking up in the state of Oklahoma must pay Oklahoma sales tax. Change of address post-sale may result in additional sales tax fees at buyer's expense. Sales tax exemptions must be presented at time of purchase.

To arrange for shipping, contact Whitney Batres at (405) 838-1953 or wbatres@nationalcowboymuseum.org.

(Emeritus Member)
Armando Deferrari was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and began braiding rawhide in the 1970s while attending the Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Upon graduation in 1975, he began his career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Tandil, Argentina, while honing his skills as a traditional rawhide braider and studying under fellow braiders Maximo Coll and Don Luis Alberto Flores. To complement his braid work, Deferrari subsequently started studying the art of silversmithing in the gaucho style, becoming in time a master of both disciplines.  In 2008, he applied for membership in the TCAA and, along with Pablo Lozano, became one of the first international members. An Emeritus TCAA member since, 2012, he has traveled as an ambassador of gaucho culture to numerous countries, including the United States.