Old West Auction in Santa Fe
Auction Preview:
Friday, June 20th: 9AM – 5PM MDT & Saturday, June 21st 9AM – 4PM MDT
Live Sale:
Saturday, June 21st: 5PM MDT
Santa Fe Community Convention Center
201 W Marcy St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Hi-yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger was ready for his closeup at Morphy’s million-dollar-plus Old West Auction in Santa Fe
Hollywood highlights included Clayton Moore’s screen-used Colt revolvers, $29,520, and Lone Ranger mask, $27,060; while Western art was led by William Gaul’s Indian by Campfire, $39,360
SANTA FE, N.M. – Collectors figuratively saddled up and traveled the historic Santa Fe Trail to Morphy’s June 21 auction of elite Western art and antiques, a million-dollar-plus event that embodied the spirit of American adventure and reverence for Native culture in 472 diverse and exceptional lots. The evening sale was a well-attended special highlight of the Old West Show & Auction weekend held annually at the Santa Fe Community Center.
The high-end auction lineup included fine and decorative art, riding apparel and tack; firearms, silverwork, Native tribal art and relics; and Hollywood cowboy memorabilia, to name but a few of the categories. Top-lot honors went to an artist-signed oil-on-canvas painting by William Gilbert Gaul (NAD, 1855-1919) titled Indian by Campfire. Gaul was a well-credentialed artist known for his military scenes and Western subjects, including realistic depictions of interaction between Native and Caucasian people. Born in New Jersey, Gaul studied in New York City at the Art Student League and the prestigious National Academy of Design (NAD), where, in 1882, he was elected a member. Gaul made many trips to the American West between 1882 and 1891, living on Army posts and with Indian tribes whose cultures and traditions he captured in his artworks. One of his best-known works is a portrait of Sitting Bull, which he painted from life. Indian by Campfire came with provenance that included a March 14, 2001 sale at Sotheby’s New York. Against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-$50,000, the beautifully executed oil was bid to $39,360 at Morphy’s.
Two of the most talked-about lots had a direct connection to the classic TV series The Lone Ranger and were screen-used by its beloved star, Clayton Moore (1914-1999). Perhaps nothing was more essential to Moore’s iconic role than the black eye mask his character wore to conceal his identity. The cloth-and-plastic mask was molded to fit Moore’s face and became part of one of the most recognizable costumes in American TV history. Inextricably tied to a classic series that first ran on ABC Television from 1949 to 1957, the mask came with provenance from the estate of the show’s producer, Jack Wrather. It sold within its estimate range for $27,060.
Additionally, the auction included a pair of Colt Single Action Army Revolvers screen-used by Clayton Moore during filming of The Lone Ranger series. Both Colts were .45 caliber and bore the serial number 58918, indicating 1880 as their year of manufacture. The lot included six of the Lone Ranger’s silver-plated deactivated Remington UMC cartridges. Like the mask, the revolvers came with provenance from the estate of producer Jack Wrather. Entered with an estimate of $25,000-$35,000, the pair of revolvers retired at $29,520.
From the Civil War era, a desirable New Haven Arms Model 1860 “Henry” lever-action rifle was manufactured in 1863. It displayed all of the essentials collectors seek in an original Henry of its period, including matching serial numbers stamped inside the butt plate, on the lower inside tang, on the barrel breech and inside the stock channel. Also, an “H” stamp was visible inside the lower tang, and the barrel flat displayed an early-style small Henry patent legend stamp. A perennially-popular model with fans of historical firearms, the Henry settled above high estimate at $19,200.
A magnificent example of Native American artistry, a Northern Plains / Sioux pictorial beaded vest was a scene-stealer at the auction preview. Its front panels were decorated with stunning images of two mounted warriors with feathered coup sticks, while the back showed two mounted braves dressed in full regalia, including headdresses and coup sticks, with an upper portion adorned with two pole-mounted American Flags. Described by Morphy’s specialist cataloger as one of the nicest Native beaded vests ever to be offered by the Pennsylvania-based auction house, it rose to $19,200 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
A visually compelling advertising piece, a rare lithographed pennant poster in an unusual trapezoidal shape promoted “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West / Pawnee Bill’s Far East” shows. Extremely colorful and profusely illustrated, its motif featured an image of Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) in the foreground. Copyrighted in 1910 and printed by Russell-Morgan, the 80-inch by 24-inch pennant was bid to $16,800 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
Another Old West advertising highlight was a Remington-UMC Arms and Ammunition canvas banner with graphics of Indians on horseback hunting buffalo. Scarce and desirable, the 28¼-inch by 57-inch poster commanded $14,400 against an estimate of $5,000-$8,000.
Masterfully executed, a Scott Rogers (b. 1960-) bronze tableau depicted in fine detail a Conestoga wagon crossing rocky terrain with people, livestock and a dog as its traveling companions. Artist-signed Scott Rogers and 2021 in the casting, along with a copyright symbol and incised petroglyphs, the 4ft-long work was numbered CA 3/30. Bidders chased it to $9,600.
More than five dozen pairs of antique spurs were offered, including unique German silver and brass-inlaid productions that had been crafted within the walls of the Colorado State Penitentiary. The mounted spurs had heel bands adorned with 1-1/3-inch engraved, inlaid circles with brass borders, each encasing a five-point star. Rare and atypical, they sold just below their high estimate for $11,079.
A small selection of coveted lawmen’s badges included examples from marshals, sheriffs and police from Arizona, Texas, California and Oklahoma. An extra-special entry was a Texas Ranger’s badge originally worn by WM “Matt” Cawthon, a sergeant with the Rangers’ Company ‘F’ at Fort Fisher in Waco, Texas. Attractively decorated with a Texas Star and “Texas Ranger” on the obverse, the badge was engraved on verso with Cawthon’s initials “WMC.” At some point, the badge had been gifted to Buster Brown of Houston, Texas. It conveyed to its new owner with an original signed letter to Brown on Texas Department of Public Safety letterhead. Against an estimate of $1,500-$2,500, it claimed a strong winning bid of $7,200.
To discuss consigning a collection or single item to a future Old West auction conducted by Morphy’s, please call Dan Morphy at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All enquiries regarding consignments are kept strictly confidential, and there is never an obligation to consign. Online: www.morphyauctions.com
All prices quoted in this report are inclusive of buyer’s premium as noted on Morphy Auctions’ website.
CAPTIONS:
All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions
1026
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/RARE_AND_ATYPICAL_CANON_CITY_PRISONMADE_SPURS_-LOT638348.aspx
Unique German silver and brass-inlaid Colorado State Penitentiary-made mounted spurs with heel bands adorned with 1-1/3-inch engraved, inlaid circles with brass borders, each encasing a five-point star. Sold just below high estimate for $11,079
1051
Pair of Colt Single Action Army Revolvers used by Clayton Moore (1914-1999) during filming of the TV series ‘The Lone Ranger.’ Serial number 58918, indicating original manufacturing date of 1880. Came with six of the Lone Ranger’s silver-plated, deactivated Remington UMC cartridges. Provenance: Estate of ‘The Lone Ranger’ TV series producer Jack Wrather. Sold at the midpoint of the pre-sale estimate for $29,520
1052
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/CLAYTON_MOORE_S_ORIGINAL__LONE_RANGER__MASK-LOT641393.aspx
Original black cloth and plastic mask screen-worn by Clayton Moore as the star of the TV series ‘The Lone Ranger.’ Variations of the mask reside in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas. Another (smaller) version of the original was kept for years by the Moore family. Auction example came with provenance from the estate of ‘The Lone Ranger’ TV series’ producer, Jack Wrather. Sold within estimate for $27,060
1069
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/NORTHERN_PLAINS___SIOUX_PICTORIAL_BEADED_VEST__-LOT639797.aspx
Northern Plains / Sioux pictorial beaded vest. Front panels adorned with stunning images of two mounted warriors with feathered coup sticks. Back shows two mounted braves dressed in full regalia, including headdresses and coup sticks; with upper portion featuring two pole-mounted American Flags. One of the nicest Native beaded vests ever to be offered at Morphy’s. Sold for $19,200 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000
1162
New Haven Arms Model 1860 ‘Henry’ lever-action rifle, manufactured in 1863. Matching serial numbers stamped inside butt plate, on lower inside tang, on barrel breech and inside the stock channel. Inside lower tang also bears ‘H’ stamp. Barrel flat displays early-style small Henry patent legend stamp at top of barrel. Sold above high estimate for $19,200
1184
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/RARE__BUFFALO_BILL_S_WILD_WEST__PENNANT_POSTER_-LOT641221.aspx
Rare lithographed pennant poster in unusual trapezoidal shape advertising ‘Buffalo Bill’s Wild West / Pawnee Bill’s Far East’ shows. Extremely colorful and profusely illustrated, with Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) in foreground. Copyright 1910. Printed by Russell-Morgan. Size: 80in x 24in. Sold for $16,800 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000
1227
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/SCOTT_ROGERS__B_1960_-LOT641318.aspx
Scott Rogers (b. 1960-), bronze tableau of Conestoga wagon with people, livestock and companion dog. Signed in bronze ‘Scott Rogers’ and ‘2021’ with copyright symbol and incised petroglyphs. Numbered ‘CA 3/30.’ Size: 48in x 16in x 18½in. Sold for $9,600
1268
Remington-UMC Arms and Ammunition banner with graphics of Indians on horseback hunting buffalo. Canvas with corner grommets. Size: 28¼ x 57in. Scarce and desirable, it sold for $14,400 against an estimate of $5,000-$8,000.
1298
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/GILBERT_GAUL__1855_1919_-LOT641394.aspx
William Gilbert Gaul (1855-1919, Member of National Academy of Design), ‘Indian by Campfire,’ oil on canvas, artist-signed at lower right. Size: 39½in x 29½in (sight). Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, March 14, 2001. The auction’s top lot, it sold at the midpoint of its estimate range for $39,360.
1334
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/TEXAS_RANGERS_COMPANY__F__BADGE-LOT640261.aspx
From a selection of lawmen’s badges offered at the sale, this example designed as an encircled five-pointed Texas Star was originally worn by Texas Ranger W.M. ‘Matt’ Cawthon, a sergeant with Co. ‘F’ at Fort Fisher, Waco, Texas. Cawthon’s initials ‘W.M.C.’ engraved on verso. At some later point gifted to ‘Buster Brown’ of Houston, Texas. Conveyed with an original signed letter to Brown on Texas Department of Public Safety letterhead. Sold for $7,200 against an estimate of $1,500-$2,500
Auction Details
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201 W Marcy Street
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501