Renowned 1930s Hollywood silversmith, Charlie Sample's (1903-2003) personal pair of silver mounted parade spurs. The only known maker-marked pair of Charlie's spurs extant. Marked "CHAS. / SAMPLE / MAKER" & "Sterling" the spurs are in excellent condition and feature split "Cheyenne" heel bands, clover leaf rowels and affixed floral carved straps with Mexican peso conchos. Buckle sets marked "STERLING / CHAS. L. SAMPLE / L.A. CAL." Straps marked "ED G GILLMORE / STUDIO CITY / CALIFORNIA".
PROVENANCE: Accompanied by a notarized letter on Charlie Sample’s letterhead, dated November 3, 1994 attesting to the authenticity of the “pair of Silver Mounted Spurs, engraved on four sides” and made in 1938. He states, “[t]he silver coins were a gift to me from Alfonso Bedoya. Mr. Bedoya worked with Humphrey Bogart on the classic film, ‘Treasure of The Sierra Madre’.” The letter is signed, “Charles Sample Sr / Gold & Silver smith”.
LITERATURE:
Featured prominently in “Bit and Spur Makers in the Vaquero Tradition,” by Ned & Jody Martin, 1997.
Lot 257, Brian Lebel's Mesa Auction - January 21, 2017
Sold $34,500