Dénes Nepp and his student

Dénes Nepp saddler, applied folk artist has been transferring his practical knowledge for over three decades. For many years, his students have been making their harnesses for coach drivers together with the master. In 2020, within the framework of the Master and Apprentice programme, he passed on the skills of harness making and the technique of making harness bridles to two young people studying in Nádudvar, Tamás Török and László Szilárd Sámuel. He was named Applied Folk Artist in 1993, and in 1997 he received the frst prize of Pro Renovanda Cultura Hungarie. Following several major professional awards, he received the title Master of Folk Art in 2015.

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Saddlers produce leather products for animals, mainly horses. Te master’s job is to make harnesses that are comfortable for the animals, durable, light weight and consistent with the traditions of Hungarian coach driving culture.
Szilárd-László Sámuel folk leatherworker, saddler lives in Csíkszentdomokos (Sândominic, RO), where the locals faithfully preserve their folk traditions, customs and crafs. He believes it is important to pursue and maintain folk traditions. Ever since he was a child he has been interested in making harnesses, horse tools and leatherwork. He learned the craf of folk leath erworking and harness making at the Nádudvar Vocational School of Folk Art, under the professional guidance of Tamás Benő and Dénes Nepp. He took part in the “Master and Apprentice” competition organised by the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists, during which he learned how to make a fne bridle from master saddler Dénes Nepp. He was awarded the second prize in the individual category at the 14th ‘Travelling Journeyman’ National Folk Crafs Competition organized by the Békés County Folk Art Association and the opportunity to have his work exhibited. He won a Master-Apprentice Fellowship from the Foundation for Traditional Crafs Education and the Réka Darida Foundation in New York in 2021.