Top lot: Edward H. Bohlin’s personal silver mounted gun belt, a 14-year custom production that sold to a bidder from Texas for $307,500
LAS VEGAS – America’s neon mecca, Las Vegas, has no shortage of attractions, and the latest to see its name “in lights” was Morphy’s January 26 auction held in association with Brian Lebel’s Old West Events. The 473-lot auction of Western relics and memorabilia held at the Westgate Casino & Resort drew a spirited roomful of bidders, each keen to claim a piece of cowboy history. In the end, Morphy’s closed the books at a resounding $2.2 million.
The auction was part of a potent tripleheader, sharing the bill over a two-day period with the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show and Brian Lebel’s 34th Old West Show.
“More than 200 people attended the auction, making it one of the largest auction audiences Morphy’s has hosted since conducting Part I of the Bobby Knudsen petroliana collection in fall of 2022. Also, the phone lines and Internet were active from start to finish,” said Morphy’s co-founder, president and presiding auctioneer Dan Morphy. “The feedback we received throughout our time in Las Vegas was very positive. While the two shows were taking place, we accepted consignments valued at well over a million dollars. Some of those items are unbelievably rare and important and will be highlighting our future firearms and Western sales.”
Edward H Bohlin (1895-1980) was the king of Western silver artistry. Creations by the company he founded dominated the auction’s top 10. The priciest item was Bohlin’s own silver mounted with gold repousse gun belt, which he personally designed and built alongside top Bohlin artists for his own use. It was an integral part of Bohlin’s celebrated “Big Saddle” equestrian parade ensemble, which took 14 years to complete. “It is an undisputed masterpiece,” Morphy observed. “Bohlin scholar James Nottage called it the most artistic and richly embellished Western-styled gun belt and holster set ever made.” Estimated at $200,000-$250,000, the unique double-holster gun rig attracted 17 bids before settling at $307,500 (all prices quoted include 23%). Its new owner is a private collector from Texas.
As the auction progressed, the Bohlin treasures continued to charm bidders, especially the child’s pony-size silvered parade saddle with matching bridle, bit, breast collar and original black-and-white wool corona. An extravagant production from the early 1950s, it was one of only two pony-size parade saddles Bohlin offered in its catalogs from 1927 through the 1960s. “The original buyer undoubtedly would have been someone so wealthy, they could afford to buy the saddle at immense cost knowing it would be outgrown in just a few years,” Morphy said. Against an estimate of $30,000-$40,000, the auction example realized $79,950.
A pair of lavish Bohlin parade spurs made around 1999 for the Bohlin Company’s then-CEO and president David Samuels was a one-of-a-kind production. The motif chosen for the pair combined the most dazzling and detailed historical Bohlin patterns, many cast from the original dies. Engraved with Samuels’ name on a rose gold Bohlin seat plate, the lot sold above estimate for $22,140.
Topping the wonderful selection of marked spurs was a pair of extremely rare circa-1920s double-mounted G S Garcia “Rabbit” spurs – so named because they feature engraved images of snuggling and sleeping bunnies on their fronts and backs. They were maker-marked G S GARCIA on one spur and ELKO NEV on the other, and described by Morphy’s experts as being one of only two such pairs known to exist. Settling near the high estimate, the artful spurs achieved $41,820.
There was tremendous interest in a pair of McCabe silver and gold-repousse parade chaps formerly owned and exhibited by legendary film and TV cowboy Roy Rogers. The chaps came from a complete parade saddle ensemble originally commissioned in 1931 for wealthy horsewoman H.L. Musick and her champion horse, Diamond. After many Rose Bowl appearances, the ensemble was acquired by Rogers for use in photos and at promotional appearances. Widely exhibited and formerly part of the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum Collection, the chaps commanded a winning bid of $184,500 against an estimate of $70,000-$90,000.
Several very fine prison-made horsehair hitched bridles – most of them “published” – came from such institutions as Deer Lodge, Florence, Oregon State, Wyoming, Yuma and Walla Walla. A horsehair bridle made at Yuma Territorial Prison, executed in pink, yellow, black and red with Yuma hitched high-dome, star-patterned conchos, sold for $22,140 against an estimate of $12,000-$15,000.
Sculptor Dave McGary (Arizona, 1958-2013) once said that he wanted to be remembered for “having documented, with respect, the culture of Native American people.” There is no argument that McGary achieved his goal with the polychrome bronze titled Last Stand Hill. It depicts three braves on galloping horses, as though charging into battle. Artist-signed and numbered 16/40, the artwork sold for an above-estimate price of $28,160. Another popular fine-art entry was a dramatic Till Goodan (Colorado/Calif., 1896-1958) oil-on-canvas – untitled but known as Roping Trouble – which rose to $24,000 against an estimate of $7,000-$9,000.
Antique advertising with a Western theme is always in demand with collectors. A prized entry, with provenance from the renowned Dick Burdick collection, was the very rare circa-1910 Colt Firearms lithograph (variation No. 2) depicting the “Colt Cowgirl.” At its lower left, the artwork reads: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms M’F’G Co. The 19-inch by 30-inch (sight) litho printed by WF Powers Co sold for $20,400 against an estimate of $7,000-$9,000.
To no one’s surprise, a farrier’s trade sign with exceptional eye appeal attracted 31 bids before changing hands. It consisted of a 19th-century molded-zinc livery horsehead with blacksmith-made hook attachments for the suspension of a wood-and-iron horseshoe-shape sign bearing the message “Horse Shoeing.” Estimated at $5,000-$7,000, it raced to a final bid of $15,990.
After the highly successful Las Vegas series concluded, Dan Morphy remarked: “One thing I heard over and over again, from both the dealers and visitors, was how much they enjoyed the abundance of business and social activity all under one roof. It would not be an exaggeration to say that more than 100 people made a special point of finding me and telling me that, which I greatly appreciated. That kind of positive feedback tells us we’re giving collectors what they want.”
Brian Lebel agreed, commenting: “I am incredibly pleased with how successful the event was for both the shows and auction. Our vendors and collectors were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the venue, the prices, and the exceptional quality of the items on offer throughout the weekend.”
Consignments are now being accepted for the next Western auction produced by Morphy’s in association with Brian Lebel. The auction will take place on June 22, 2024 in Santa Fe, N.M., during Brian Lebel’s Old West Events Show (June 21-23). To discuss consigning a collection or individual item, call Dan Morphy tollfree at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. There is never an obligation to consign, and all enquiries are kept strictly confidential. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.
CAPTIONS:
All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions.
1179 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/YUMA_PRISON_HORSEHAIR_BRIDLE-LOT593917.aspx
Yuma Territorial Prison horsehair bridle executed in pink, yellow, black and red with Yuma hitched high-dome, star-patterned conchos. Sold for $22,140 against an estimate of $12,000-$15,000
1197 –
Bohlin parade spurs made circa 1999 for Bohlin Company’s then-CEO and president, David Samuels, for promotional purposes. One-of-a-kind pair with motif combining the most dazzling and detailed historical Bohlin patterns, many from original dies. Engraved with Samuels’ name on rose gold Bohlin seat plate. Sold for $22,140 against an estimate of $10,000-$20,000
1306 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/EDWARD_H__BOHLIN_CHILD_S_PARADE_SADDLE-LOT588628.aspx
Edward H. Bohlin child’s pony-size silvered parade saddle with matching bridle, bit, breast collar and original black-and-white wool corona. An extravagant production from the early 1950s. Based on their catalogs from 1927 through the 1960s, Bohlin offered only two of their parade saddles in child’s sizes. Sold for $79,950 against an estimate of $30,000-$40,000
1316 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/TILL_GOODAN__1896_1958__-LOT589016.aspx
Till Goodan (1896-1958), Untitled (‘Roping Trouble’), oil-on-canvas, 24in x 32in (sight). Artist-signed at lower left. Sold for $24,000 against an estimate of $7,000-$9,000
1321 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/DAVE_MCGARY__1958_2013_-LOT594004.aspx
Dave McGary (1958-2013), ‘Last Stand Hill,’ polychrome bronze, 36in x 25in x 19in. Artist-signed and numbered ‘16/40.’ Sold for $28,160 against an estimate of $15,000-$25,000
1325 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/ROY_ROGERS__FAMOUS_EXHIBITION_MCCABE_CHAPS-LOT588722.aspx
Roy Rogers’ McCabe silver and gold-repousse parade chaps from complete parade saddle ensemble originally commissioned in 1931 for wealthy horsewoman H.L. Musick and her champion horse, Diamond. After many Rose Bowl appearances, the ensemble was acquired by Rogers for use in photos and at promotional appearances. Provenance includes Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum Collection. Chaps sold for $184,500 against an estimate of $70,000-$90,000
1327 –
Edward H. Bohlin’s personal silver-mounted gun belt from an equestrian parade ensemble personally designed by Bohlin and built by him in collaboration with top Bohlin artists over 14-year period. Exhibited at the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal, worn in scores of parades, published in numerous books and magazines. Sold to Texas collector for $307,500 against an estimate of $200,000-$250,000
1370 –
Extremely rare circa-1920s double-mounted G.S. Garcia ‘Rabbit’ spurs featuring engraved snuggling and sleeping bunnies on front and back. Deeply and correctly maker-marked ‘G.S. GARCIA’ on one spur; ‘ELKO NEV’ on the other. One of only two pairs of its type known to exist. Sold near top of estimate range for $41,820
1412 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/FABULOUS_HORSESHOEING_TRADE_SIGN-LOT588624.aspx
Farrier’s trade sign consisting of 19th-century molded-zinc livery horsehead with blacksmith-made hook attachments for suspension of wood-and-iron horseshoe-shape sign with message ‘Horse Shoeing.’ Ex Dick Burdick collection. Sold for $15,990 against an estimate of $5,000-$7,000
1421 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/A_RARE_COLT_FIREARMS_ADVERTISING_LITHOGRAPH-LOT589156.aspx
Very rare circa-1910 Colt Firearms advertising lithograph of ‘Colt Cowgirl’ No. 2, W.F. Powers Co. Litho. ‘Colt’s Patent Fire Arms M’F’G Co.’ appears at lower left. Size: 19in x 30in (sight). Ex Dick Burdick collection. Sold for $20,400 against an estimate of $7,000-$9,000
