June 22, 2024 Brian Lebel's Santa Fe Old West Events Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2024
When not parading or trail riding, George Pitman's personal "go-to" saddle was this very attractive and comfortable silver-mounted show style made by the popular Hayward, California saddle shop of the Rowell Saddle Company in the late 1950s. Artistically floral tooled with stylized Cheyenne roll for maximum comfort, the front is fully silvered and intricately engraved, while the skirts and fenders are trimmed in heavy gauge sterling diamond and half-diamond conchos with corner plates featuring raised jewelers bronze horseheads. The saddle is in very fine, rideable condition, with a 14" seat, 2" cantle and a 3 1/2" Cheyenne roll.
Harry Rowell was born in Peterborough, England and joined the British Navy while still in his teens. After discharge, Rowell went to Canada and then headed west to California, arriving in 1912. Harry was a rancher, rodeo producer and livestock provider, succeeding in each of those ventures. In 1940, he went into the saddle making business with his partner Victor Alexander in Hayward, California. In 1942 Alexander left, and the shop name was changed to the Rowell Saddle Co. Harry prospered in Hayward, building a solid reputation for saddles and buckles while sponsoring several popular Bay Area rodeos. Rowell moved his saddle shop from Hayward to Castro Valley, where it remained until the early 1960s.
Provenance: Ex George Pitman Collection, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.
Item Dimensions: Overall: 29" x 20" x 46"