Half Seat, R.E. Gibbons, Miniature Salesman Sample Saddle

A very early example of a salesman sample, miniature saddle. The Cheyenne roll cantle has large leaf tooling in the early California style, separate side jockeys, Sam Stagg rigging, with double leather covered rings and stirrups. Marked with an oval cartouche on the jockeys "R. E. GIBBONS" with hair saddle bags. Shows quality restoration. 11" overall (on stand). Includes display stand and blanket.

The bottom of the cartouche is illegible but records show R. E. Gibbons as a maker in Gainesville, Texas in 1885.

Provenance: The Earl Hagerman Collection.

Lot 192, Sold $2,950
Brian Lebel's Cody Old West Auction - June 26th, 2021, Santa Fe, NM.

Abraham Carlos Miniature Mexican Salesman Sample Saddle

A true miniature Mexican-made salesman sample saddle, with covered horn, saddlebags, nickel decorations, and a marked exposed tree. Attached is a miniature rawhide braided quirt. Label affixed to the seat "Fabricante / Abraham Carlos / Domicilio Conocido / Tepetongo, Zac." The saddle has a 5 1/2" seat and 2 5/8" diameter horn cap. 13" overall (on stand). Display stand included.

Provenance: The Earl Hagerman Collection.

Lot 187, Sold $1,416
Brian Lebel's Cody Old West Auction - June 26th, 2021, Santa Fe, NM.

Miniature Half-Scale, Half Seat Marked Salesman Sample Saddle

A classic trail saddle design in miniature, half-scale, with Sam Stagg rigging, separate side jockeys, full double rigging with covered rings, leather covered oxbow stirrups and a simple, yet striking, border tooling. Marked: "Made by - Jack Thomas - Fallbrook Calif.” Measures 20" overall (on stand). Includes custom display stand.

From the Michael Friedman collection and pictured in “Cowboy Culture” (1992) page 105. Caption in part reads "While this saddle depicts a circa 1800 trail saddle, it was actually made in the 1960s".

Provenance: The Earl Hagerman Collection.

Lot 189, Sold $2,360
Brian Lebel's Cody Old West Auction - June 26th, 2021, Santa Fe, NM.

Flower Tooled, Miniature Salesman Sample Saddle.
Salesman sample saddle, marked with an "H" in the center of the 7" seat. This full floral tooled and nicely detailed miniature has a 1 1/2" cantle and a nickel (pot metal, cast) horn. Includes blanket, rope and custom stand. 21" tall on stand.

Provenance: The Earl Hagerman Collection.

Lot 190, Sold $2,360
Brian Lebel's Cody Old West Auction - June 26th, 2021, Santa Fe, NM.

Old West Events is thrilled to offer four saddles from the Museum collection of Francois Chladiuk. These saddles have been part of numerous museum exhibitions, and appear in numerous publications.

Important Moran Bros. Display Saddle. A true Territorial loop seat saddle by Moran Bros. (Miles City, Montana Territory). Exhibition quality, with beautifully carved leather. Floral and vine tooled just about everywhere, with a well-outfitted cowboy with rifle tooled on one fender, and a regal Indian with bear claw necklace on the other fender. A roping cowboy is carved on the 15” seat. Every place they could tool, they did, and this magnificent showpiece is the result. Covered oxbows, and original double horsehair cinches with covered rings. Cartouche of “MORAN BRO’S / MILES CITY. M.T.” An important piece of Montana history, Buffalo Bill history, and Western collecting history. A truly special saddle.

Included with this lot is an original cabinet card photograph of the saddle, by L.A. Huffman (Miles City, Mont.), taken when the saddle was new.

Lot 184, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $22,420

Fancy Pearl Inlaid Mexican Saddle with Spurs. Stunning and fine Mexican saddle with an inlaid Mexican Eagle on the front of the apple horn. The swells feature crossed rifles and crossed sabers in mother-of-pearl. Extra-fancy silver thread embroidery, with flowers, horseshoes and horse heads. The tree is a deep mahogany wood, with 12” seat with leather pads. Extra fancy cinch. Made in Colima, the saddle belonged to a provincial governor in the time of Pancho Villa, circa 1910-20. In remarkable condition, especially considering its materials and age.

Accompanying the saddle are fine, period-correct, silver inlaid spurs with silver thread embroidered straps. Fancy wood saddle stand included.

Lot 182, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $11,210

A Fine Silver Mounted Maximilian Period Charro Saddle. Incredible silver mounted Mexican saddle, circa 1860. The huge and impressive 8 1/2" silver repousse horn with flowering basket and rope edge leads to the 12" seat and the silver bound cantle. Lion head decoration and ring holders along the side, silver covered stirrups, bindings and rigging rings. The saddle was brought to Europe by a French officer after the defeat at the Siege of Queretaro in 1867. It was this battle that ultimately led to the end of Maximilian’s rule and his life.

Lot 183, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $10,620

L.D. Stone Salesman's Sample-Size Saddle. Remarkably rare (the only one we have ever seen), maker-marked salesman sample-size saddle. A true half-scale saddle, with 7 ½” seat, circa 1890. Floral and leaf tooled on jockeys, skirts, and fenders. "L.D. Stone & Co. / San Francisco" mark on each fender. Basket stamped on the front and back of the 2" cantle. The stirrup leathers are chain stamped. Sam Stagg rigging, exposed rawhide horn with red pigment, 7 1/2" lined tapaderos over leather covered stirrups. 12" braided horsehair cinch with iron rings. An amazing find on so many levels, and probably the only one in existence. Includes custom stand.

According to Francois, this saddle was displayed at the entrance to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West as an attraction for an act that featured a monkey riding a goat. It is clear from its condition that it was only used for marketing, and not for the monkey.

Lot 185, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $44,250

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