January 26, 2024 Brian Lebel's Old West Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2024
A double-mounted swell-band pair of Edwin G. Field (1920-2012) Santa Barbara spurs with original bluing, twisted wire inlay and stripes overall. The bands are 3/4" at the widest point with a 2 1/4" shank holding a wide inlaid rowel. Double heel chains and basket stamped straps with Field stamped scalloped conchos.
Pictured: "Bit and Spur Makers in the Vaquero Tradition" by Ned & Jody Martin, page 91. Included is a letter from Mr. Martin
Read The Field Family Bio online at MorphyAuctions.com
The Field family has produced spurs for five generations in Santa Barbara starting around 1870 when Edwin Field (1820-1900) move to California from Connecticut. Edwin had two sons, John Chester Field (1862-1954) and Frank Field (1865-1942) who worked in the family shop and produced bits and spurs. John Chester has two sons and a daughter, Edwin Donald Field (1896-1983), F. Frank Field (1904-1981), and Marguerite J. Field Thornburgh (1899-1985) who was one of the few women known to have ever produced bits and spurs. F. Frank marked his work "F.F.", his two siblings did not mark theirs. Edwin Donald had two sons who also worked in the family shop, Edwin George Field (1920-2012) and Walter Eugene Field (b. 1922). The two brothers worked together and marked their pieces "Field Bros." from 1945-1948. When working for himself, Edwin George marked pieces as "E.G. Field". The Field family had a distinctive style and frequently used silver wire inlay in spurs and copper rollers on the braces of bits. Ed was a renowned, 4th generation bit maker who lived in Paradise, near Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County and learned his craft from his grandfather, John Field. John learned from his father (Ed's great-grandfather,) John Field, who came out west with John C. Fremont's California expedition, then returned to Connecticut, pack up his tools & gear, ultimately returning to Calaveras and then to Santa Barbara. Ed's father (Edwin Donald) made spurs inlaid with silver and sold his products through Jedlicka's Saddlery in Santa Barbara. Ed's aunt, Rita Thornburg, made bits while putting her sons through college. Ed learned his trade while a grammar and high school student and also worked on ranches and for the US Forest Service. The Field family may have originated in Connecticut but with (5) generations of Californians they are about as native as the Spanish Vaqueros.
Item Dimensions: Each: 9" x 4 - 1/2" x 2 - 1/2".