Considered one of the standout pieces in the entire George Pitman collection, this exquisite two-tone brown floral carved Bohlin / Hollywood sterling and gold parade saddle, custom made for Louise Cottam of Santa Barbara, California, in the late 1930s is a slight variation on the Machris model that debuts in the 1937 Bohlin catalog one page following the "Cottam" saddle named for Louise's husband, Russell. According to Bohlin expert and author, James H. Nottage, "Louise and her husband, Russell both had fine Bohlin outfits which they rode in parades, horse shows and rodeos. Hers, in many ways more elegant, won prizes at the Santa Barbara Fiesta Days, the Bakersfield Frontier Days and other gatherings". The saddle features a figure-eight floral pattern and multiple pictorial carvings including a longhorn on the 14" seat and a beautifully detailed let 'er buck cowboy on the fenders which, according to Nottage, is characteristic of the work of Bohlin leather carver extraordinaire, Gabriel Diaz. The saddle itself is artistically adorned with leaf pattern conchos along the full perimeter interspersed with Bohlinmade silver spots. The entire front and cantle are fully silvered with a twisted rope edged gullet, horn cap with gold bucking horse and cantle cover. The leather saddle strings protrude just below an engraved silver and gold horsehead concho. The skirts and fenders are mounted with intricately engraved silver corner plates with gold vignettes featuring a bucking horse, longhorn, and one depicting Louise showing her horse picking up a lead into a canter and featured in a full page photo on pg 126 of Saddlemaker to the Stars. The elegant 22" Tapaderos are mounted with multiple gold horsehead conchos while the Breast Collar continues the overall silver leaf & silver spot theme but adds a bold central medallion with the name "Louise" in raised gold script above a golden show horse. A second Breast Collar is also included and appears to be of slightly later manufacture (1940s) mounted with round Bohlin horsehead conchos and a different style of Bohlin spots plus a centered three-dimensional gold longhorn concho. The fully matching Bridle continues the leaf and gold horsehead theme and is affixed to a matching bit and ferruled romal reins with adjustable slide. Saddle set includes a brown and white wool Corona Pad plus original cinch. Very fine, 100% original condition, circa 1937-1939 PROVENANCE: EX George Pitman Collection, Rancho Santa Fe, CA PICTURED: James H. Nottage, Saddlemaker to the Stars, The Leather and Silver Art of Edward H. Bohlin, Pgs 126-129 Louise Charlotte Rechner (Cottam) was born May 6, 1907 in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1918 at age 11 marrying John Russell Cottam in Santa Barbara in 1925 when she was only 18. Louise was an equestrian enthusiast from an early age frequently showcasing her prized horses in shows, parades and rodeos around California. The Cottams has 2 daughters eventually moving to Las Vegas in 1950. Louise passed away in Los Angeles in December of 1980 at age 73
PROVENANCE: EX George Pitman Collection, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Item Dimensions: Saddle: 33" x 26" x 49 1/2"
Lot 1161, Sold $228,000
Old West Auction – Las Vegas - Friday, January 24, 2025