Reputation matters.
Native tanned hide, beaded and fringed gun sheath. Remnants of red wool trade cloth decoration. Beaded in cobalt, pale blue, white, yellow and white-heart red, with panels at muzzle and beaded strips with yellow ochre on hide at the throat. 47" long; 17" longest fringe. Circa last quarter 19th century.
Provenance: Sotheby's Parke-Bernet auction, 1970s, tag attached.
Lot 199, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $3,540
Click to enlarge and for sales results.
United States of America Presidential Peace Medal struck in 1871. A Ulysses S. Grant issue, and the only medal issued by the government without the name of the President whose image is on the medal. Face: "United States of America - Liberty Justice and Equality – ‘Let Us Have Peace’ " with profile of Grant along with pipe and laurel. Obverse: "On Earth Peace - Good Will Toward Men - 1871" along with the earth, Holy Bible, farm implements, surrounded by stars. It is known that 300 Grant medals were struck by the U.S. Mint and delivered to the Indian Office in 1871; we do not know know to whom this particular medal was issued. All pure silver and 2.55" in diameter. Hole drilled into the top center.
Lot 151, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $6,655
Presidential Medals
During the presidency of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), the US government began to issue “Presidential Peace Medals”, a practice that continued through to Benjamin Harrison's presidency (1889-1893). Each of these medals featured a likeness of the then-current President.
Medals accompanied almost all formal interactions between Native Americans and the US Federal Government. Unlike the medals that came before them that were issued alongside treaties, the Presidential medals were issued to select individuals, usually leading and influential chiefs.
Early photographic portraits of Native American Chiefs often show them wearing medals, a testament to their importance. An example of this can be seen to the left, where Chief Red Shirt sits posed, his Ulysses S. Grant medal hanging prominently around his neck and accentuated by the lighting. The medals were held in such high regard that they were often to be buried with the owner, or passed down from generation to generation.
Roping Wild Horses
Oil on canvas
25" x 30"
Signed lower left: LEONARD H. REEDY
Nameplate affixed to linen frame liner below painting, gold colored, with hand stenciled black letters, TO / R.D. DEXHEIMER / IN APPRECIATION OF FAITHFUL SERVICE / THE TEMPERANCE LEAGUE OF ILLINOIS
Affixed verso on cardboard backing Gallery Sticker, square, gold colored, with black letters, FOUNDED 1897 / FINDLAY / GALLERIES / INC. / CHICAGO
Framed to 32" x 36 3/4"
Provenance:
The Artist, Commissioned
Findlay Galleries Inc., Chicago, Illinois
R.D. Dexheimer, Chicago, Illinois, Gift from the Temperance League of Illinois
By descent in family, Chicago, Illinois
By descent in family, Missoula, Montana
Of the original owner of this painting:
This painting was presented by the Temperance League of Illinois to R.D. Dexheimer, a Chicago-area minister. The Temperance League of Illinois was originally founded as The Anti-Saloon League in 1898, with the mission to “open doors to freedom from addictive behavior for individuals and families in Illinois through public information, education, and legislation.”
Source: www.ilcaaap.org
Lot 61, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $4,720.
Striking Sioux dress, fully beaded yoke area, with rose, translucent red, pale blue and cobalt. Native tanned hide, with full green ochre coverage on skirt and fringe. 48" wide and 50" from top to the bottom, circa 1900.
Lot 204, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $5,605
"All Around Cowboy Champion" Gene Rambo's Cheyenne Frontier Days 1948 Championship Trophy Saddle, Buckle and Crockett Spurs. Won by Rambo for Calf Roping. The fabulous unmarked, silver and gold buckle is unused, and is in mint condition. It has a high relief gold rope edge and flowers with red stones. 2 1/4" x 3 1/2". The spurs are classic period stainless Crockett bronc hooks, heavily polished with engraved overlay. The saddle is by Colorado Saddlery, Denver, and is tooled in a floral pattern with "Presented by Montgomery Ward" on each of the rear jockeys. The fenders are maker-marked along with "Champion Calf Roper 1948 - Cheyenne Frontier Days". The seat is quilted and is 14 1/4"; the Cheyenne roll low roping cantle is 2 1/2". The spurs and buckles, along with other trophies, have been in a showcase for decades, and are descended through the Rambo family. Included in the lot are items of Rambo ephemera, including 2 circa 1950s coloring books "World's Champion Cowboy - at the Pendleton Roundup", original pay envelope, newspaper articles and other related items.
Lot 51, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $6,490
Gene Rambo (1920-1988) was one of America’s first great all-around Rodeo Cowboys. He was active in the International Rodeo Association in the 1940s and 1950s and won the IRA all-around cowboy season championship four times, including 1948. Rambo’s versatility was often praised, being one of the rare competitors to consistently win all three roughstock events (bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding) and all four timed events (steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping and steer roping).
In 1955, he was inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Rodeo Hall of Fame. The Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame inducted him in 1969. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame inducted him in 1989, and the California Rodeo Salinas Hall of Fame inducted him in 2010.
These are Visalia's No. 81 fine California spurs with swell bands, intricate inlays and flat sided 2 1/4" shanks. The 10-point, 2" rowels have chevron chased points. Stamped inside heelband: "VISALIA STOCK SADDLE CO." Amazing condition and all original. As-new but no original finish remaining. Per Griff Durham, the leading Visalia authority, "Most Visalia iron was marked with a gang stamp, but they had so many contract makers some may not have had one provided and, as in this case, marked their work with individual letter stamps with the inevitable uneven results. Gutierrez, for example, used individual stamps for his maker's stamp, not all of the same scale in some cases.”
EX: Bill and Marilyn Lenox Collection.
Lot 156, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $5,310
Sheep on the Lane
Oil on canvas
30" x 40"
Signed lower right: JOHN MOYERS / CA
Framed to 41" x 51"
Lot 147, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $6,050
Keyston Bros. Parade Saddle Set
A very nice sterling and gold parade saddle ensemble by Keyston Bros., of San Francisco. 5-point stars in the style of sheriff's posse mountings, with 14K gold rope and horse heads throughout the set. The matching bridle and martingale also have the same elaborate engraving and raised stars and horse heads. Diamond pattern sterling mounts over the floral tooled leather. The strings have the extra special touch of braided leather and the stirrups have parade drops. The cantle on the 14 1/4" seat has a rope edged Cheyenne roll, and the horn is 4 1/8" across and fully silver covered. Cantle plate is engraved "Howard Marks 1948". The bridle holds a fully overlaid Crockett bit.
Lot 168, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $6,655
Keyston Bros. Sterling Parade Saddle Set
Complete parade ensemble by Keyston Bros. San Francisco. Set includes saddle, martingale and bridle with a Diablo silver bit. The fully flower-carved saddle is mounted with sterling disk conchos, 3” corners, silver covered swells, silver covered 3 1/2" cantle, and sterling mounted 22” tapaderos. Bucking horse conchos on taps, and star and diamond motifs. Engraved silver plate on back of cantle, “M.S. Hansen”. 14” seat. Maker marked. The matching bridle is complimented with gold horse heads on the scalloped conchos and face drop. The martingale has a central posse style star with horse head. Most of the mountings are original, though there are some added pieces to dress-up the set.
Lot 87, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $5,310
Mark Dahl TCAA Card Suit Bit.
Beautiful Mark Dahl bit from the 2000 Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) Sale & Exhibition. Marked inside, “Mark / 2000 / TCA” & “Deeth / NV / #293”. The bit is a duplicate of the one he made for the very first TCAA sale, except that first bit featured hearts and diamonds, whereas this example features clubs and spades. A true work of art, with fine engraving inside the cheeks, on the roller cover and rope motif. Triple slobber chains with a central heart spacer.
Lot 56 Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $3,540
Mark Dahl (TCAA) California Spurs. Wonderful, inlaid California spurs with Mark Dahl’s exquisite engraved silver inlay on both sides, top and bottom. The impressive 3” rowels are inlaid on each of the 22 points. Dahl also designed and crafted the conchos and three-piece buckles. Additionally, he made the tooled leather spur straps, something he doesn’t often do. This showy pair boasts many unique features such as a barrel style mounting for the swinging strap buttons and sweeping chap guard on the 3” shank.
Lot 57 Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Estimate $4,000-6,000.
Harsh Wyoming Winter
Oil on canvas
10” x 14”
Signed lower left: Gollings - 04 (with hoof print)
Framed to 15” x 19”
Tag on reverse: Lyman S. Smith - Sheridan Wyo.
Lot 140, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $3835
A dramatic dance shield with a bold look. Green pigment on hide, with painted buffalo and buffalo tracks elements, decorated with 22" long red shroud cloth drops. 16" diameter, circa 1880-1890.
Ex: Eleanor Tulman Hancock Collection.
Lot 203, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $3,245
Chuck Stormes (TCAA) Custom Saddle. Breathtaking custom saddle created in 1996 for noted race horse owner and western collector, Bruce Hundley, owner of Saxony Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. This stunning, fully floral tooled custom saddle features 27” tapaderos, a 16” seat, square skirts, and amazing tooling by one of the very best in the business. Carved into the back of the cantle is the Farm’s logo of a “SAXONY” race horse with jockey atop. Bruce’s “BCH” monogram is carved into the back of the seat. The saddle has been proudly featured on the home page of Chuck’s website as an example of the finest custom saddles offered. Marked, “STORMES SADDLE Co. / MAKERS / CALGARY ALBERTA”.
Lot 53 Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $11,800
Chuck Stormes (TCAA) Custom Saddle. Beautiful, yet understated, this custom saddle by Chuck Stormes is elegant in its simplicity. A 3B saddle with tooling on the cantle, front of the seat and the pommel. Deep brown, inset 16” seat, a 3 1/2" Cheyenne roll cantle, 26" tapaderos, round skirts and styling in the true Vaquero tradition. Circa 2008, in very slightly used condition, and exceptionally well-cared-for.
Chuck is a founding member of the TCAA, and one of the most respected saddle makers in the world, not only because of his exacting craftsmanship, but his understanding of traditions, history and horsemanship.
Lot 52 Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $6,490
Across the Divide
Oil on board
40" x 30"
Signed lower right: Eric Michaels
Framed to 47 1/2" x 37 1/2"
Lot 146, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $4,720
Lot 260, David Mann, Midnight at the Spring, Oil on canvas, 22” x 28”. Sold $2,420.
Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - June 10, 2017, Fort Worth.
Lot 261, David Mann, Untitled: Mountain Man, Oil on board, 14" x 11". Sold $1,180.
Fine works by Harman; from Red Ryder to the American West.
Auction date: June 10, 2017.
Lot 168, Fred Harman, "Burning Hair and Sweat", Oil on canvas, 20" x 30".
Sold 4,840
Lot 164, Fred Harman, Red Ryder Illustration, Watercolor & ink, 12 1/2" x 21"
Provenance: From the Estate of Snuff Garrett.
Sold $5,015
Lot 169, Fred Harman, The Pride of Texas, Oil on canvas, 24" x 36".
Literature: The Cowboy in Art, by Ed Ainsworth, pictured on page 132. Book included.
The Great West in Paintings, by Fred Harman, 1969, pictured on page 140. Fred Harman.
Provenance: From the Estate of Snuff Garrett.
Sold $2,360
A rare Remington Model 1861, (Eliot's Patent) Navy Percussion Revolver with Possible Younger Brothers History. Includes Bob Younger cabinet card.
S/N 15395, 7 3/8" barrel, shipped 1862; known as the "Old Model Navy". A very interesting revolver with field repair and notable Remington factory features. The barrel bears the correct 2-line Beals Patent address. The trigger guard is brass and is mounted with 2-piece walnut grips.
The cylinder pin of this particular model was unusual for a Remington percussion revolver in that the pin is not retained by the loading lever but instead is allowed to slide in a groove between loading lever and barrel. This was Eliot’s design, with the idea of a more rapid reloading. The design was faulty however, and Remington quickly designed a “screw fix” for the problem. This particular revolver was not outfitted with this Remington retrofit, but rather was “field repaired,” which would likely have been accomplished by a gunsmith. It has been suggested that it is this repair that Younger refers to in the account, “The Story of Cole Younger.”
Inside the left grip is scratched, "B YOUNGER / 1867 / L.S. Mo." Inside the right grip is scratched with the date "1867" and "Lee Sumit Mo." [sic] Included in the lot is a handwritten and signed letter from Charles B. Layson dated 1/13/1997, on his letterhead, that reads: “The Remington “Beals” Navy .36 revolver, serial # 15395 that I recently sold to Ted Bell, was purchased by me from an individual that came to our store with several family guns to sell, on or about July 15, 1996. Not until our gunsmith removed the grips while cleaning the gun, did he see the marking, BOB YOUNGER 1867. The seller had not mentioned this marking, and apparently had no knowledge of its existence.”
Also included is a letter summarizing a scientific analysis of the grips performed by McCrone Associates, Inc. dated June of 2000. The letter details the results of the analysis, but ultimately cannot ascribe a date to them, or the interior grip inscription. It does, however, seem to indicate that the inscription had been there for at least some period of time.
The lot is accompanied by a period lithograph cabinet card of Bob Younger.
Lot 258, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - June 10, 2017, Fort Worth.
Sold $6,490
Created in the mid-1980s by then-owner of the Bohlin Company, Danny Lang, this striking and impressive pair of one-of-a-kind, double-mounted, intricately engraved parade spurs overlaid in sterling and three-color 18K gold, was designed to celebrate the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial. The pair has the trademark cookie-cutter rowels inset with engraved sterling washers, jinglebobs secured by silver spots, and four upturned buttons mounted with gold hearts. The off-side features raised gold longhorns and trumpets “TEXAS” down the shank, while the front is adorned with a bold and golden, heavy gauge 5-pointed star, the Sesquicentennial dates of “1836-1986” and Danny Lang’s “DL” initials. The fully floral tooled, laced and lined black two-piece spur straps are decorated with sterling stars and feature 3-piece engraved silver buckle sets. Outstanding, unused condition.
PICTURED: Page 41 of the 1980s, #15 Edward H. Bohlin Company Catalog
EX: Harry Hudson Collection.
Lot 97, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - June 10, 2017, Fort Worth.
Sold $17,700.
Kaibito Mesa
Oil on canvas
30” x 36”
Signed lower right: SCHENCK 90
Signed, titled & dated verso
Framed to 35 1/2” x 41 1/2”
Lot 335, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - June 10, 2017, Fort Worth.
Sold $3,933.
Regal pair of rare 1800s Spanish/Mexican narrow banded, silver inlaid Colonial spurs with fine chasing, detailed period file work, jingle bobs, oversized 8-point rowels, and carved dove-wing leathers mounted with impressive coin-silver conchos. Very good condition.
Lot 193, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - June 10, 2017, Fort Worth.
Sold $3,835.
