Lot 203: Important Mexican Saddle made for Porfirio Diaz
Classic late 19th - early 20th century Mexican saddle with matching saddle bags, custom made for President Porfirio Diaz. Featuring traditional period Charro styling with partially exposed rawhide tree, trimmed with repousse floral patterned silver ornamentation on the oversized horn, upper gullet and cantle edge. Mounted with multiple silver inlaid slotted conchos with original latigo strings, plus ornate stirrups and period cinch with silver inlaid cinch rings. The saddle is regally adorned with natural piteado fiber embroidered in elegant and intricate patterns appropriate to Diaz’s position. A noteworthy and historic Mexican presidential saddle manufactured during a most fascinating and tumultuous transitional period in Mexico’s evolution to modernity, the saddle was made by Porfirio Diaz's personal saddle maker between 1890-1912. It is well maker-marked under both the saddle bags and under the seat as follows: FUSTES FINOS / DE / MADERA GARANDZADA / Z. LOPEZ / ESPECIAL MENTE PARA TALABARTERIA / DE / SOSTENES TAPIA / PORFIRIO DIAZ No 6. / PUEBLA. Leather is stamped TALABARTERIA.DE.SOSTENES.TAPIA.CALLE.DE. / PORFIRIO.DIAZ.N6.PUEBLA.
Brian Lebel's High Noon Auction - January 23, 2016
Sold $13,800
Provenance: Private collection of Enrique Guerra; to artist Tom Lovell; to present owner.
Porfirio Diaz (1830-1915)
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican soldier, military hero, and politician, who served seven terms as President of Mexico; a total of three and a half decades from 1876 and 1911. Diaz perhaps qualifies as one of Mexico's most controversial statesmen since he is frequently remembered as being one of the country's most notorious dictators yet ironically, his record includes significant accomplishments including bringing Mexico into the modern age while his country achieved financial solvency during his extended reign.
