June 22, 2024 Brian Lebel's Santa Fe Old West Events Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2024
An important piece of California history. A fine silver mounted trophy saddle maker marked "D.E. WALKER / MAKER / VISALIA, CAL." and "K.D. MATHIOT - 1927" engraved on the silver cantle presentation plaque. A very fancy silver cantle binding, bucking horse engraved silver swells and cut out in flight American eagle corner plates. The extensive tooling includes a cowboy on a bucking horse on the fenders, and a Greek theatrical mask on the cantle. A "KD" brand decorates the set in several places including a high relief on the horn cap. The saddle has a 15" seat and 6" and comes with a matching martingale and bridle. The highly decorated silver mounted bridle includes an unmarked silver inlaid crescent cheek bit in the style of G. S. Garcia, held by California style snake attachments. Also included is a very well-done rawhide reata.
Provenance: Ex Ron & Linda Gillett Collection
K. D. Mathiot, a long-established Monterey, California breeder of Palomino horses, owned and operated the 240-acre Rancho Carmelo Dude Ranch located a mile east of the Carmel Valley Village. Rancho Carmelo Dude Ranch promotional literature proclaimed it as the first dude ranch in California. It was established in 1928 and was in operation until the mid 1960s. K.D. built a small store and tavern in the 1930s which guests of the dude ranch and local cowboys gathered for drinks and camaraderie in an old west atmosphere and became known as the "Bucket". The Bucket was known by locals as the “Cowboy” or “Bucket of Blood” tavern, the latter name stemming from the many fights that were to have occurred there.
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.
Item Dimensions: Overall: 30" x 20" x 51".