1930'S NOLTE-OLSEN SAN FRANCISCO SILVER PARADE SADDLE

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/20/2026

This circa 1937, Olsen-Nolte Saddle was crafted in San Francisco, California during the first year of partnership for the makers. Only the most skilled Bay Area artisans were employed in its construction. The tooling was meticulously executed by Gene Sisco, a skilled silversmith and toolmaker who specialized in leather smithing at the saddlery. This saddle was the first high end saddle built in the San Francisco Olsen-Nolte shop. The saddle stands as not only the first example, but also the pinnacle of high-end parade saddles produced by Al Nolte in 1937. The silversmith responsible for the fine decorations was Robert Schaezlein, a renowned silversmith with his own shop in San Francisco.In the late 20s they started making several Levi Strauss award buckles including the annually awarded World Champion All Around Cowboy buckles and the Six Time Winner Trophy Buckle. He also made award buckles for the Grand National Rodeo, Horse, and Livestock Show at the San Francisco Cow Palace. After an argument over the patenting and outsourced casting of the Visalia Humane bit in 1936, he ended the relationship with Visalia Stock Saddle Co. Around that time he began work for Al Nolte, and subsequently, the Nolte-Olsen Saddle Shop. It was at that time that he went to work on this saddle. The saddle is in pristine condition, having been mounted on a horse only twice since its inception in 1937. Includes original 1930s photo of the Olsen Nolte storefront. 14 - 1/2" seat, 3 - 1/4" cantle, 51" horn to stirrup

Item Dimensions: 51" Length.