June 22, 2024 Brian Lebel's Santa Fe Old West Events Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2024
Circa 1890 Gros Ventre/Assiniboine (Fort Belknap, Montana) bridle. Featured prominently in Native American Horse Gear by noted collector and author E. Helene Sage.
As stated in the text of the book: "Figure 2-11. Bridles: Beaded bridle, Gros Ventre or Assiniboine (Fort Belknap, Montana), c. 1890. Once part of a famous collection of Northern Plains material, this buffalo hide headstall has four huge "bullseye" rosettes and a center forehead ornament with tubular glass beads and fringe that extends below the horse's nose. Clearly used for parades or ceremonies, this complicated but beautiful headstall combines geometric design elements (cheekpieces and browband) with "feather" and "bar" motifs (keyhole), the significance of which is not clear. The round reins are made of tightly braided rawhide. The iron ring bit (possibly Navajo or of Mexican origin) exhibits three tiers of players that hang below the mouthpiece and are connected to the large ring by four chains. The mouthpiece has a copper-barrel cricket or roller. Unlike the headstall in Figure 2-6, which was designed to fit over a plain leather headstall when needed for parades and ceremonies, this piece is a headstall in itself, with attachment loops for a bit and thick, buffalo leather ties at the crownpiece".
The beaded headstall shown in Figures 2-11 and 2-12 has been attributed to the Gros Ventre or Assiniboine living at Fort Belknap, Montana. The four "bullseye" rosettes are quite striking and set off the large keyhole with its enigmatic beadwork of "feather" (2 diamonds) and "bar" motifs. The iron ring bit (Figure 2-13) is most likely of Navajo origin and shows the characteristic tiers of players, chains, and high port with copper cricket or roller. In fact, it might pre-date the bridle, as well as the ring bit shown in Figure 2-10 (Brugge and Taylor, 2001). Dimensions: Headstall is 32” x 10 1/2” x 7” depth. Length of the braided reins: 95”. The condition is overall excellent with no restoration.
Included is a signed copy of Native American Horse Gear. Shown: Page 36 (full), 37, back cover of book and dust jacket.
ADDENDUM: Provenance: Ex Chandler-Pohrt Collection (Milford G. Chandler & Richard A. Pohrt) / Morning Star Gallery, Santa Fe.