Rex Arrowsmith's Personal Edward H. Bohlin Buffalo Head Buckle
An early Bohlinmade sterling silver, 12K & 14K, buffalo head and double shield, rose and yellow gold trophy-style oval buckle, with the coveted small "Bohlinmade / Hollywood / Calif." maker-mark. Measures 2 1/2" x 3 3/4" with twisted gold rope edge and floral engraved background. Worn for decades by the much beloved, legendary Santa Fe dealer and collector, Rex Arrowsmith.
EX: Arrowsmith Collection.
Rex Arrowsmith (1925-2017) was an iconic Indian trader who developed an early interest in American Indian culture and began collecting artifacts as a youth. Following his military service, Rex graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in mining and metallurgical engineering. While at KU, he met Bonnie Cunningham who became his wife in 1949. He left a lucrative, executive position in Houston, Texas in 1959 to pursue his passion and opened up a store, Arrowsmith's Relics of the Old West, in Santa Fe across the alley from the San Miguel Church. The unique store and trading post attracted clientele from around the world. Rex was equally at ease wheeling and dealing with Elvis or John Wayne, negotiating with champions of industry, speaking at a board of directors meeting, hunting or fishing with Indian friends or living like a native in the jungles of Costa Rica. Rex was also one of the last, true Indian traders. He would take his sons with him on trading trips to the reservations where he would acquire stock for the store directly from his many Pueblo, Navajo and Hopi Indian friends and from other trading posts, and had Indians from the local pueblos coming in on a daily basis to do business. Rex developed many close relationships with these people which resulted in wonderful memories for the entire family. Many a time the Arrowsmiths were invited to spend the night during ceremonials and dances and feasts. Very few would ever experience these events in such intimate surroundings.
The business was expanded in 1972 when the Arrowsmith-Fenn Gallery was established on Paseo de Peralta. He was president or chairman of the board of many organizations including SWAIA, The Old Santa Fe Association, and El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. He was very active in the Indian Market for over 50 years and with the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonials. Rex worked tirelessly to retain the character of Santa Fe during the urban renewal push in the 1960s by seeing that historic buildings were saved from demolition by getting into place strict zoning laws within the historic districts. Few know that Rex was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and appeared regularly in the TV series, "Empire" with a young Ryan O'Neal and Charles Bronson and had parts in movies filmed in the Santa Fe area. Rex was honest to a fault. Most of his deals were made on a handshake and his trustworthiness benefited him both in business and in personal life. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and was very generous. Rex had a great sense of humor and was always the jokester with a smile on his face whose lifetime experiences provided endless topics for his renowned story telling ability.
Lot 127, Sold $3,245
Brian Lebel's Cody Old West Auction - June 26th, 2021, Santa Fe, NM.
