American
Briefcase
Maker
Each piece built entirely by one craftsman’s hands — shaped, stitched, and finished in a New York workshop. No factory. No shortcuts. No equal.
Peter Joseph — Marcellino NY
New York · Handmade · Since 1995
Made in USA
The Three
Signature Styles
The Wallace
From $2,000 · English Bridle · Double Front Straps
Explore →
The Habermas
From $2,300 · Double Latch · Bridle or Harness
Explore →
The Woodhull
From $8,000 · XX-Large · Pivot Flap · English Bridle
Explore →
In thirty years, not a single piece has left this workshop that was touched by a machine.
Peter Joseph is one of the last craftsmen alive who still practices the complete art of handmade bridle leather briefcase construction — from the first cut of the hide to the final burnish of the edges. Every piece is shaped, stitched, and finished entirely by his hands, in his New York workshop.
His clients include lawyers, surgeons, executives, and collectors who understand that genuine handcraft is no longer available at any reasonable price elsewhere. Billionaire Tilman Fertitta visited the workshop personally and acquired $140,000 in leather goods.
Years of Craft
Hand-Built
Factory Pieces
Heirloom Life
How a Marcellino Briefcase is Made
Four Steps
Select Your Leather
English bridle, USA harness, Italian calf, American alligator — each hide chosen by hand for density, grain, and character.
Commission the Design
Work directly with Peter to specify every detail — style, hardware, lining, inside pockets, stitching pattern, and straps.
Built by One Pair of Hands
Every cut, every saddle stitch, every burnished edge — executed by a single craftsman. No assembly line. No compromise.
Yours for a Century
Bridle leather ages into something irreplaceable. These pieces outlast their owners. That is the entire point.
The art of handmade briefcase making is a dying tradition — there are very few master leather craftsmen like this left in the world.
Peter Joseph · Marcellino NY · New York
Commission Something That Outlasts You
Bespoke orders are built entirely to your specifications — leather choice, hardware, lining, stitching pattern, inside pockets, and custom locks. Delivery in 6–14 weeks. A piece that becomes your legacy.
$2,300
Choice of leather hide
Custom hardware & locks
Suede or natural lining
Inside pocket configuration
Hand saddle stitching pattern
Inquire Now